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Daniel Gardiner: Alwoodley decathlete looks to London 2012 Olympics
Alwoodley's Daniel Gardiner is convinced next July's European Junior Championships is the perfect stepping stone in his bid to compete at the London 2012 Olympics.
Gardiner recently rubbed shoulders with Norwich Union performance advisors Jason Gardener and Katherine Merry at an inaugural World Class Talent camp in Loughborough.
The 18-year-old decathlete is one of 65 youngsters hand-picked by UK Athletics' newly-appointed head coach, Charles van Commenee, to join the World Class Talent Programme.
And the Leeds City AC star revealed his weekend with former British Olympians, such as Gardener and Steve Backley, had doubled his desire to top the podium in Serbia in July.
"The really big goal for me in the outdoor season is the European Juniors," he said. "I'm going to need a certain amount of points, around 7,200, but I reached that target last year and hopefully I can do so again.
"It feels like I'm on the ladder towards the senior GB team now I'm on this scheme, which is great.
"Everything will all add up – especially the guidance and the medical and physio advice.
"I'm on one of the best and most productive systems in the world and to be rubbing shoulders with the likes of Jason Gardener makes me feel really lucky.
"Looking forward, I would love to go to London 2012. The thing is though I really like to travel – it's great that it's in London, but I'd love to be jetting off across the world."
Gardiner was one of 22 young athletes in Loughborough to pick the brains of former World Junior 100m champion and GB Olympic sprinter Harry Aikines-Aryeetey – a product of the World Class Talent Programme.
And Gardiner, who came 12th at the World Junior Championships in Poland in July, revealed he has already been receiving a helping hand from one former Olympic as he bids to step onto the Olympic stage at London 2012.
"I really enjoy my event because you get to meet so many different people," he added.
"I consider myself to be fairly strong at most of my events, but my real weakness is javelin," he added.
"But I'm getting some help at the moment from Mick Hill – he competes at my club and so it was just a source I had and I thought he would be one of the best people I could speak to."
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Saturday 19 May 2012
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