CHRISTIAN Malcolm has revealed how he thought his Olympic dream was over as he lay in Cypriot hospital bed with a drip in his arm.

Malcolm spent five days in hospital in Paphos while warm-weather training for the Athens Olympics. But a virus picked up in Cyprus caused his kidney to fail and the Newport 200m sprinter was rushed to hospital.

"It was pretty serious," said Malcolm.

"I hadn't been feeling well for a while but I put it down to the fact that I was just a bit rundown because I've been training so hard.

"But then I got worse and they took me to hospital and I had blood tests and urine tests and the diagnosed the problem and told me I had to stay in hospital for a while until the the kidney had recovered.

"I lay in hospital with a drip in my arm and I thought that my Olympics were over, so just to be here is amazing."

Malcolm, had been approaching something like his best form before flying out to Cyprus, but the former World Junior Champion, now admits that his medal chance have been dealt a major blow.

"It was always going to be tough, but now it is even harder," said Malcolm.

"I'm normally confident about my chances going into any competition because I know what I can do when I'm at my best. But I've missed two weeks of training and the training I'm doing now isn't 100 per cent flat-out because of the kidney so I've set myself no targets.

"I'm just happy to be healthy, that is all that matter and I'm happy to be in Athens because I didn't think I'd be able to run at all.

"I've been watching it all on the TV in Cyprus and now I want a piece of the spotlight and I can't wait to run." One of Malcolm's main rivals Greek 200m Olympic champion Costas Kenteris has been kicked out of the games in disgrace after failing to give a drugs test.

And 25-year-old Malcolm has applauded the brave decision to ban Kenteris from running.

He said: "I can't really say to much, other than it's a step in the right direction and that's all I need to say."

Malcolm's fellow TeamGB 200m runner, Newport-based Darren Campbell, crashed out of the 100m after the first round on Saturday, but Malcolm backs him to return to his normal self when the 200m heats start tomorrow.

"Darren's been unlucky with injury, he pulled his hamstring in training but it's getting stronger all the time and he'll be alright for the 200m."

Campbell himself said after his 100m exit: "I'm gutted to be out, but I've had this hamstring problem and I'm confident it is healing well and I nearly got through to the next round. But it wasn't to be and I'm looking forward to running in the 200m and I'll give it my best shot."