European Athletics Championships 2010
Venue: Barcelona Dates: 27 July - 1 August
Coverage: Watch live on BBC HD, BBC One, BBC Two and BBC Sport website (UK users only); Live coverage on BBC Radio 5 live; Highlights of the biggest events on demand online (UK only) Full details

Christian Malcolm will continue in athletics to the 2012 London Olympics

Christian Malcolm hopes his big-game experience will pay off as he aims for his first major individual outdoor medal for 12 years in Barcelona.

The Welsh sprinter admits this will be "one of the toughest" European Championships but backs his major meet experience ahead of his 200m bid.

"It is not going to be easy but once I get in there, I'm as good as anyone," said Malcolm ahead.

"I like going to major championships, it is what I train hard all year for."

Now at his 10th major championship, Malcolm's only individual major medal outdoors was a silver on his senior major championship debut at the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur - just a month after his world junior sprint championship double.

I have vast experience and I will put that into practice in Barcelona as I hope to show a few people there are life in these old legs yet Welsh sprinter Christian Malcolm

The 31-year-old has finished fifth in two Olympic Games at 2000 and 2008 - including when Usain Bolt broke Michael Johnson's world record in Beijing - plus fifth at the 2001 World Championships and fourth at the 2002 European Championships.

Malcolm, whose 20.08 secs personal best at the 2001 Worlds in Edmonton, starts his 200m European quest at 1030 BST on Thursday hoping to go better than his 2002 performance in Munich.

The Newport runner, who had his lottery funding removed in October 2009, is determined to show there is plenty left in Team GB's self-anointed "elder statesman" in Barcelona.

"It is not all about Grand Prix meets for me, I love being at major championships," said Malcolm.

"It is not going to be easy as out of them all, this is going to be one of the toughest Europeans ever."

Christophe Lemaître will be looking to complete a French sprint double in Spain as his time of 20.16 secs in the fastest time in Europe this year.

Norway's Jaysuma Saidy Ndure (20.31 secs), French pair Martial Mbandjock (20.38 secs) and David Alerte (20.49 secs) and Sebastian Ernst of Germany (20.38 secs) have all run faster than Malcolm's season's best of 20.50 secs this year.

Christian Malcolm trains with fellow 200m sprinter Jeffrey Lawal Balogun

Malcolm is also wary of Ramil Guliyev of Azerbaijan and Germany's Daniel Schnelting while fellow Brit Jeffrey Lawal Balogun's season's best is just shy of Malcolm's top time this year.

"I didn't think I'd make the European team a few months ago as I had an Achilles problem," admitted Malcolm, who won the GB European trials in Birmingham.

"I didn't start running quick until May and I managed to get into some kind of shape and now I feel I'm coming in on a bit of form.

"So in some ways it is an achievement for me to be at the Europeans - but I want to make the most of this unexpected chance.

"It is all about big stage for me, I am a big-game performer and the major championships usually inspire me and bring out the best in me.

"I have vast experience and I will put that into practice in Barcelona as I hope to show a few people there are life in these old legs yet!"

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