Rob Tobin couldn’t hide his delight after a tough 2010 season ended on a bronze-medal winning high at the Commonwealth Games.
Tobin has endured a nightmare run of injuries which left the Basingstoke 400m ace doubting whether he would make either of the year’s major track championships.
But he defied the odds to claim silver in the 4x400m relay at the European Championships in Barcelona in August and he was at it again yesterday.
The 26-year-old anchored the England side home impressively to make a seemingly doomed year end as a double medal celebration.
And after climbing the podium in the sub-continent Tobin was a happy man.
“Towards the end of the race I thought I was going to have enough to win it over the last 100metres,” said Tobin.
“But I just didn’t quite have enough in the end but just to come away with a medal is a great feeling.
“I struggled a little bit towards the end and I just wanted to make sure I got the boys a medal and I did that in the end so I am happy.
“At the start of this year with the injuries I had I didn’t even think I’d be running at the two major championships at all.
“So to have got to them both and to come away with a medal is an amazing feeling.”
Australia were the dominant force in Tobin’s final eventually taking the gold in a time of 3.03.30minutes with Kenya second in 3.03.84 and the England team completing the podium with 3.03.97.
Tobin will now face up to the hard slog of winter training as he gears up for next year’s World Championships in South Korea and beyond to London 2012.
And Tobin admitted his grandstand finish to 2010 will live long in his memory over the dark winter months.
“It is a fantastic way to end the season because it has been a hard year and a difficult one to deal with, with the injury struggles I had earlier in the year,” added Tobin.
“But hopefully I can build on this now and have a good winter and come back next year in good shape.”
SPAR, there for you and our GB athletes, proud supporters since 2004 www.spar.co.uk
