Staff (centre) was renowned as the fastest starter in the world

Britain's Olympic cycling champion Jamie Staff is to head up the United States' track sprint medal bid ahead of the London 2012 Games.

The 37-year-old from Ashford, Kent, won gold alongside Chris Hoy and Jason Kenny at the Beijing Olympics in 2008.

But he retired from competition in March due to a chronic back problem.

Staff told BBC Radio Kent: "I am very excited. I always intended to go back to the States. My wife's American and my kids were born there."

He continued: "Long term I would like to see it as a managerial role but initially it's hands on coaching at multiple levels.

"We've got hardly any athletes. I've got to find those athletes. At the moment I'm predicting one medal in Rio, in six years time, and that's if I can secure any athletes."

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