Finding the perfect formula for track success

Just before 9.30pm today, the eight fastest men in the world will be gathered in a small room deep in the bowels of the Olympic Stadium, attempting to destroy each other.

The tactics in this game of mental disintegration will vary. Some might sing or hum. Others will pace the room, looking into the eyes, the souls, of their fellow competitors. Usain Bolt will likely be in a world of his own, thinking about the face he will pull for the camera as it pans across the start line.

It is a scenario that few know but Darren Campbell is one of them. The macho world of sprint racing is not known for its sensitivity, but the Englishman attempted to kill by kindness.