RISCA's Jamie Baulch is determined to bounce back from his injury set-back, despite being 'gutted' at missing out on the Olympic games, writes Michael Pearlman.

The thirty-one year old Gwent star pulled up at the Olympic trials with a thigh injury and was not selected in the GB party to compete at Athens.

Baulch is due for an MRI scan this week on his thigh and his lower back but he admitted to the Argus that it is hard not to think about the Olympics.

He said: "It would be a lie to say that I am not extremely disappointed about not going to the Olympics, anyone would be, it is the biggest event in world sport.

"At the start of the season I ran 45.6 seconds which would have easily got me on the plane and my body is in great condition, in training I was in the form of my life.

"The injury had been nagging at me but because the Olympics were on the horizon I didn't give it time to settle because all you do is focus on the games.

"Myself and Iwan Thomas have been talking about the disappointment and Iwan is very down but this is the nature of our sport, it is what makes athletics so amazing.

"When you are up you are really up and the lows are terrible, but you cannot possibly enjoy the success and the great moments without experiencing the lows as well."

In the short term Baulch is looking forward to some media work during the games but he is determined to end his track career on a high.

He explained: "At the moment my body is still strong and I have the desire to keep going, at least for a couple of years.

"I look back and I think that in the last couple of years I have maybe not done as much as I should have but the flip side of this is that my body is still in good shape not all banged up like some people's might be.

"I don't suppose I will be in contention for the next Olympics but I think perhaps 2006 could be my swansong."

Baulch also made it clear that he harbours no resentment towards former American Malachi Davis, who was picked for the 400m and the 400m relay at the expense of Iwan Thomas.

He said: "I have no problems with Malachi and I have wished him well.

"In terms of times we are not at our strongest in the 400m at the moment and if Malachi can help us to improve then good luck to him.

"I think if myself and Iwan had been able to hit our form from four years ago when I came fourth in the Olympic trial in a time of 44.1 it wouldn't have been a big story because we'd be a second faster than him.

"But we couldn't do that this time around so lets hope Malachi can run well and get himself some glory."

Newport Harrier James Nasrat has been selected in the GB team for the U23 International in Manchester on July 24 in the 800m.