Lapping up success

Nery Brenes of Costa Rica crosses the finish line to win the men's 400m final during the World Indoor Athletics Championships at the Atakoy Athletics Arena in Istanbul on March 10. [Photo/Agencies]

Costa Rican 400m star Brenes is aiming for glory in London after hitting a rich vein of golden form

Costa Rican Nery Brenes is burning up the track with a heavy training schedule as he seeks a third gold medal in 10 months when he competes at the London Olympic. The 400 meter runner followed his title triumph at the Pan-American Games in Guadalajara in October with victory at the World Indoor Championships in Istanbul in March, setting a national and championship record.

The 26-year-old's rise, a rags-to-riches story, has been years in the making and followed career low points when he was abandoned by sponsors and supporters after an injury.

"In 2008 I had a very good year, the best of my career," Brenes said.

"In 2009 I injured myself exactly one week before participating in the worlds (championships) in Berlin and all my sponsors left me, it was an act of backstabbing.

"I had to keep on working and it was because of the few people that believed in me," said Brenes, who grew up in the impoverished port city of Limon on Costa Rica's Caribbean coast.

Having reached the 400 semifinals at the 2008 Beijing Games, he is now in top condition and poised for a second shot at Olympic fame.

But the modest Brenes, whose personal best of 44.65 seconds is 0.9 seconds slower than American LaShawn Merritt's winning time in Beijing, stopped short of predicting victory at the July 27-Aug 12 Games in London.

"The clearest thing is to run the track the best way, conserving energy until the end, this is the most important thing," Brenes said as he proudly showed off the gold medals he won in Mexico and Turkey.

Approaching best

"We don't want to promise something that is not realistic because this falls on the critics among us. Run the track and prepare for a possible final," he said.

His trainer, Walter Salazar, said the recent successes have kept him in good stride for London, but the Olympic Games would not be his only goal this season.

"It's part of the process. The Olympics is an important competition in the development of a sportman's career, you can't lose sight (of that)," Salazar said.

"This year we started off very well, we won the world championship having ended last year at the Pan-American Games.

"Definitely he is close to his best competitive years and we are preparing for the best form for the Olympics which is an important commitment but it is not his only run this year," said Salazar.

Brenes' rise from humble beginnings has captivated the people of his small Central American country and thousands are expected to be cheering on their champion as he competes against the world's best in London.