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Britain Medals Target Drops Britain's track and field team should not expect to match their Sydney Games haul of six medals at the Athens Olympics, according to javelin thrower Steve Backley. The team, weakened by the retirement of hurdler Colin Jackson and triple jumper Jonathan Edwards as well as the injured Ashia Hansen, could also lose Olympic heptathlon champion Denise Lewis before the Games start next month. Lewis injured her foot competing in the long jump at the British trials on Sunday. "The team isn't as strong as in previous years," Backley told reporters at a Team GB news conference. "If we can have one or two good results where people have a medal chance and win then we should be happy." The British team flopped at last year's world championships in Paris, winning just three medals -- none of them gold. "We've lost some of the big names," Backley said. "But is that what we want? Who wants to watch Michael Schumacher win the grand prix every week? It's more exciting to have someone jump out of the pack and win, and then we can herald them as excellent performers." Backley, a three-times Olympic medallist, is himself pushing for gold to crown his long career. "I certainly realise the importance of winning this time," said the 35-year-old, who took silver behind arch rival Jan Zelezny in Sydney. Kelly Holmes, 800 metre bronze medallist in Sydney, said new British talent was emerging in her event. "I have no major plans on retiring at this stage but I am under a lot of pressure from some great middle distance runners coming through in the UK," she said. "I am only too aware now that someone could make an enormous breakthrough." She also welcomed the drugs probe in the United States which has led to the suspension of athletes including Kelli White. "It is very positive if it makes a cleaner sport for everyone in the future," she said. Who Are We ? | About THISDAYOnLine.com | THISDAY People | Contact Us © Copyright 2000 Leaders & Company Limited

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