Olympic 400m champion LaShawn Merritt. - AP

"I love Jamaica and love to visit that country," Olympic 400 metres champion LaShawn Merritt admitted recently while giving moral support to members of his Real Deal Track Club at an indoor track and field meet at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore at the weekend.

However, Merritt, who won the 400 metres at the 2006 and 2007 Jamaica International Invitational meet, has no plans to train here.

"I have been training with my present coach since I was a junior in high school and he knows my strengths and weaknesses. Why would I leave him now when he has taken me to the top where I am number one in the world and and the Olympic champion," said the Portsmouth residence who trains in Norfolk, Virginia, with his long-time coach, Dwayne Miller. Miller was recently named Nike's American Track and Field Coach of the Year.

A lot of respect

Merritt, who has a lot of respect for former world 100 metres record holder Asafa Powell, is looking forward to the Penn Relays in April along with the United States trials in June and the Berlin World Championships in August.

"I am looking forward to the Penn Relays first as I know that it will be one of the biggest ever based on the support the Jamaicans will be getting following their impressive show at the Olympic Games. I know that the Jamaicans are out to continue with their fine performances while the United States athletes will be coming to reclaim some lost pride," he said.

Following his success in Beijing where he toppled former number-one man Jeremy Wariner to win in a personal best of 43.75 seconds, Merritt stated that he is a marked man now and will be working even harder.

"For me the celebration is now over and I enjoyed the Olympic Games where I have been attending several parades and functions in my honour, but I started training in November," he said.

He has not competed in any meets as yet, but has been to two indoor meets with his teammates. "I like to attend these meets with my club members as I like to give them moral support," Merritt added. He is enjoying his rivalry with Wariner.

"I like to compete with Jeremy (Wariner) as it brings out the best out of the both of us and I am looking forward to our rivalry in the upcoming season," concluded Merritt who will compete in his first meet in mid-January at the Penn State Invitational in Pennsylvania.