James-King: I never thought I’d be here

National 400 metres hurdles champion Malik James-King says it is an achievement beyond his wildest dreams to have qualified for his first-ever Olympic Games team.

James-King is in the form of his life this season having shattered his personal best at the National Championship with a time of 47.42 seconds. He again dipped below the 48-second mark last week Friday, running 47.73 at the Monaco Diamond League meet.

He enters the Paris Olympics as the second-fastest Jamaica ever in the event and said he would have never imagined he would have reached these heights in his career.

"The feeling to make it to the Olympics is like a dream. I've seen other people that I've looked up to getting these experiences and I only dreamed about it and I never really saw it coming to me," he said. "I never thought I'd be here so the fact that I worked hard this year, putting in the work and putting my body through a lot of stress, to finally know that I made my first Olympic team is very crazy."

Earlier in May, the Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA) announced they would be sponsoring five athletes in their preparations for the Olympics.

James-King was one of the selected athletes and said the sponsorship has gone a far way to help him achieve his goals this season.

He explained the funds opened several doors he would not have been able to due to a lack of resources.

"Honestly, the sponsorship from the Jamaica Olympic Association was really helpful. It helped with my training, food, travelling, support and physical treatment so it really helped a lot. I didn't have enough resources to get certain things done and for the JOA to step in, it was like a godsend for me because I really needed it.

"It helped me to physically and mentally prepare for the National Championships and it's still helping me going forward as well," he added.

WORKING HARD TO STAY HERE

Having now reached new heights in his career, James-King is focused on maintaining his place as one of the best hurdlers Jamaica has ever produced.

This goal begins at the Olympics, as he promised to give his best at the upcoming Games.

He said the focus is to ensure he puts his best foot forward in every race while representing the black, green and gold of Jamaica.

"My goal for the Olympics is just getting the job done, getting into the final and giving it my all," he said. "I'm not putting too much pressure on myself and say 'I'm going to do this or I'm going to do that'. I'm going into every race and doing the same thing; staying focused and listening to what my coach tells me.

He ended with, "Being here is something that I've dreamt of so now it is just about working hard to stay here. That's just it, really."