Olympics: Jake Wightman eyes Los Angeles 2028 after Paris blow

Wightman had hoped 2024 was the year where “everything was going to come back round together and it was going to be my best season” after putting his injury struggles behind him.

“So it is a horrible way to end an Olympic experience – I didn’t get to go,” he said. “For me, it is now a decision of what I do.

“I could easily have been crushed by it and not wanted to carry on. But that can’t be how I leave my experience with the Olympic Games.

“I am hoping to try to push on for one more cycle now, which I feel motivated to go and do rather than be disappointed and downbeat. I need to keep that fire inside, which I am glad is still there.”

A foot problem prevented Wightman from defending his world title in 2023 and he then missed the British Olympic trials in June because of a calf injury.

However, he received a discretionary pick by Team GB selectors for the 800m before his hopes for Paris were dashed.

“I think probably the cruellest bit was I thought I had my bit of bad luck and wobble of the summer when I didn’t do the trials,” Wightman said.

“I don’t think I could deal with too many more big blows like I have, so I am hoping I can have potentially four years of unbroken training and racing, which is what I desperately need.”

Wightman is in the sport to chase championships and medals.

“I still believe I can do that and I believe I could have done that these last few years, but I just haven’t been given the chance to show it, so that is the cruellest bit,” he added.

“So it is about making sure I prove I can still do it and prove that all their hard work hasn’t gone to waste.”