Former Team GB Olympic 4x400m silver medalist Iwan Thomas has singled out Basingstoke’s Rob Tobin as the man to watch at this summer’s London Games.
The Basingstoke and Mid Hants AC sprinter suffered a hamstring injury last season, ending his chance to run for the relay squad at 2011’s World Championships in Daegu.
At July’s Aviva UK Trials and Championships the 28-year-old entered into the 400m final as the third fastest qualifier with a time 45.74secs.
But with 150m to go in the final race disaster struck and the former Robert May's pupil pulled up with the injury, cancelling his trip to South Korea.
Tobin’s influence could have made all the difference on the world stage, with the Basingstoke ace having helped Great Britain and England climb the podium at a Commonwealth Games, European and World Championships during his career.
Instead a despondent Tobin was forced to watch his relay teammates finish a disappointing seventh.
But with the worst now hopefully behind him, Tobin will return to the track this year fresh and ready to prove his credentials ahead of London 2012, something Thomas expects to make all the difference in the capital later this year.
“Rob has had a tough time of it with injuries but he is on his way back from that and that is great news for the Great British team,” said Thomas.
“Although every athlete should be thinking about making it to the Olympics in an individual sense, we have to think about the 4x400m relay team too, and Rob is a stalwart of that.
“He has helped the team win medals at major competitions and is now a bit of an old head in that team and I think that the team for the Olympics would definitely benefit from having Rob in there.
“It is a tough ask though because of the injuries he has had but if he can run well again then he can realistically make the relay team.”
With all eyes set to be on London this summer the athletes pulling on the GB vest will undoubtedly be under intense pressure to provide some cheer for an eager home crowd.
And while some may crumble under the pressure, Thomas – who also won 4x400m gold at the 1998 World Championships in Athens – believes there is no need to worry about Tobin’s mental strength.
“The pressure of the Olympics is huge but it will be even bigger this time around what with it being in London so experience heads are needed,” he added.
“Being a top-class athlete is always about raising your game on the big stage and there is no better stage than at an Olympics on your home turf.
“And you don’t get much more experienced than Rob and I hope that he continues to impress on his way back and makes it this summer because for me he is a must in that relay side.”
Iwan Thomas was speaking at the Southampton leg of the nearest and dearest roadshow in partnership with P&G – supporting family and friends of all Team GB and Paralympics GB athletes in the lead up to London 2012.
Visit www.pgproudsponsorofmums.co.uk for more information.
