Steve Backley came close to making the perfect start to his final bid for Olympic gold in Athens tonight.

VICTORIES by four genuine Olympic medal hopefuls helped atone for a bitterly disappointing display by Britain’s 100 metres sprinters in the Norwich Union London Grand Prix at a sweltering Crystal Palace last night.

Victories by four of Britain’s genuine Olympic medal hopefuls helped atone for a bitterly disappointing display by the 100 metres sprinters in the Norwich Union London Grand Prix at a sweltering Crystal Palace this evening.