Macey has the stomach to be a world beater

"It's scary that it's come round again so fast," he chattered. "It blew my mind last time. Now I want to win it. But I'm still getting over the Olympics. I trained blood, sweat and tears for 10 months, went halfway round the world, and came back with my hand in my pocket and nothing filling it. I threw the competition away. I've beaten myself up a lot about that. I need to remember the experience.

"Before the Games I told everyone: 'If I set a personal best and come fourth I'll be the happiest man in the stadium.' That was exactly what I did and I was sick about it.

"I couldn't have picked a worse Olympics to come fourth because everyone else got a medal. In Atlanta fourth would have been respectable. It did me a favour though. After Seville two years ago I had so much attention I couldn't get my training done. After Sydney everyone left me alone which was good because I could prepare.

"I want it so bad this time. But I could score 8,700 points and still lose. In Seville I was so naive. I need some of that this year, not thinking about things too much. It's on 6 and 7 August, a Friday and a Saturday. It's in my diary. Hardest two days of the year."

Hmmm. Actually 6 and 7 August are a Monday and a Tuesday but not to worry. These are mere details. Macey is feeling good.

"Three weeks ago I was in flying shape," he continued. "Everything was going really well and I would have said I'll win in Edmonton. But I had a ham-string injury three weeks ago. I asked for the harshest, quickest way to get rid of it, because otherwise I'd get my arse kicked at the World Champs.

"That meant going into hospital for cortisone. That was horrible, especially having it in your bum. You can feel the needle digging around to try to find the right place. It's only just got better."

For all his dedication to preparing for Edmonton, Macey is still taking time out this weekend to support this year's London Heathrow Youth Games, Europe's largest annual youth sports event, at Crystal Palace. More than 20,000 young Londoners will take part in upwards of 50 events. Previous competitors include Linford Christie, John Regis and Steve Backley. Macey will present the prizes on Sunday.

"I didn't have the opportunity to compete in something like that," said Macey. "I had to do it off my own bat and it was hard motivating myself.

"Now kids have to deal with booze, fags and drugs too. If I can get them interested in what I do, then it gets them off the street, gets them fit, gets them meeting loads more people. Great."

Then it will be back to training for Edmonton, with an extra incentive to win gold.

"I need the dough from any medal bonus to get married," confirmed Macey frankly. "Me and my fiancee, Lisa, bought a house but we haven't got loads of money to buy it outright. We've got the 25-year mortgage like everyone else.

"My mate spent 17 grand on his wedding. We want something similar. I don't want to get married in a register office. I want it to be the biggest day of Lisa's life. I want the white wedding, the cars, the hats, the tails, everything. If we did that now we'd be in big-time debt. So my bonuses from my next medal will go towards the wedding.

"I can win in Edmonton, I know I can. I've had dreams of standing on top of the rostrum. I've also had dreams of being stuck on the blocks with everyone else running off down the track. If I have to put myself through 100 pain barriers, I'll do it. Whatever it takes, this time."