Spanish record holder Angel Martinez said on Tuesday that he will be fulfilling a childhood dream by representing his country in this summer's Beijing Olympic Games.
The sprinter set a new Spanish 100 meters record on July 2 when he ran 10.14 in Salamanca and his performance is taking a time to sink in.
"I still haven't got the idea into my head that I have done it. I see the results in the papers and I can't believe that of all the people I have seen, none of them have run any faster," he said in an interview with the Spanish Athletics Federation (RFEA).
The 28-year-old believes that he will be able to lower that time in the future.
"I hope I can do that, at least that is what I am working for," he said.
Martinez will travel to Beijing knowing that only one Spaniard ever has reached the semifinals of the 100 meters. That was Felix Mendizabal in 1920.
However, the Madrid-born runner is simply happy to take part in Beijing Olympics.
"These will be my first Games and in doing that, I am fulfilling a childhood dream. As a runner, I would be delighted to reach the semifinals," he said.
"That will be difficult, but not impossible. I'd also like to improve my time in 200 meters," he added.
Martinez predicted it hard to choose a favorite to win the men's 100 meters event in Beijing.
"Tyson Gay is very competitive and he improves in the big championships; Asafa (Powell) is a very technical runner, he runs perfectly and Usain (Bolt) is physical, tall and at the moment he is the strongest," he said.
(Xinhua News Agency July 9, 2008)