This is the fittest team on record at the Olympic Games, Jones said. Britain s success has been in some part helped by the failure of athletes from other countries to get their preparation right. France is a notable example. Normally guaranteed to pick up four to six medals at the global championships, it has yet to finish an athlete in the first eight of any event. Many of its leading lights, such as Stephane Diagana, Eunice Barber and Patricia Girard, have been injured.
Injuries are inevitable because they are doing so much more work.
The intensity of training has gone up in trying to reach new standards. They are overtraining and over-racing. We see athletes on the track three times a week in January, February and March. Paula Radcliffe has taken my advice and cut back her training. Too many athletes are going to Australia, South Africa United States and are on the track way too early, as opposed to doing conditioning.