Darren Campbell has admitted that Kelly Holmes' stunning Olympic double could persuade him to make another bid for glory in Beijing in four years' time. The sprinter was one of the British quartet that claimed a shock 4x100m relay gold medal in Athens.
Immediately after the squad's triumph, Campbell revealed he could retire.
But on Sunday he told BBC Radio Five Live: "I'll only be 34 at the next Games and we all saw what Kelly did. She's pretty much an inspiration."
Campbell had said he was considering hanging up his spikes because by winning gold in Greece, he had reached the pinnacle of his sport.
But having seen Holmes storm to double gold in the women's 800m and 1500m at the age of 34, Campbell suggested he could extend his career into 2008.
He added: "I think as long as I've still got the hunger, then I'll still be around."
Campbell also revealed he had been on the verge of calling it quits in Athens because of a hamstring tear.
 |  I just remember thinking of all the kids who I've been to see in schools and I preach to them about trying their best - as long as you try your best, everyone will appreciate what you do |
The injury hampered his performance in the 100m and 200m and resulted in a high-profile feud with BBC pundit Michael Johnson who questioned the athlete's fitness.
"My biggest fear going into each race was that I really didn't want to not be able to walk off the track," he said.
"I really didn't want to be stretchered off. As long as I kept that in my mind, then that was my strength.
"I just remember thinking of all the kids who I've been to see in schools and I preach to them about trying their best and never giving up and as long as you try your best, everyone will appreciate what you do.
 Golden girl Kelly Holmes with her 800m and 1500m winners' medals |
"Then I found myself in that situation and definitely after the first round in the 200m, I really did want to knock it on the head.
"Then I had my injections and after the second round of the 200m, my coach Linford Christie was telling me to stop it because I was in too much pain.
"I don't know, I just held on and never gave up."
Campbell's reward for battling on was a share in the glory which surrounded the British team when they returned from Greece last week.
And he confessed he is enjoying the adulation.
"That's the biggest change now," he said. "When you win a gold medal and especially the way we won ours, people really do appreciate that.
"A few people have told me about the tears that they shed."
MMIX
E-mail this to a friend 
Printable version 
The defining images