After missing out on Rio 2016, Rabah Yousif is keen to make the most of his talent at the Tokyo Olympics Games later on this year, having experienced multi sport games experience at Gold Coast in 2018.

“That medal is everything, to get a world championship medal is nice but an Olympic medal is crazy.” Yousif said.

“I’m a very experienced athlete, I’ve seen many championships and Olympic games. One thing I’ll tell you about the Olympic games is that it is like the FA Cup, the favourite doesn’t always win. I’ve noticed over the years that people come to championships and haven’t prepared that well, but when it comes to the Olympics they click in and make it happen.”

Yousif travelled to Rio but was pulled out of the squad at the last minute after being injured in the days leading up to the games. One of the main goals for the Teesside athlete is to make the Tokyo squad but also be in healthy shape to compete.

This isn’t the first time the Sudanese-born 400m star has had major championship heartbreak either,

“I was aiming to represent Team England at the Commonwealth Games in 2014 in Glasgow and was on track for that, but I started performing better a week after they selected the team.”

Yousif’s frustration of missing out on major championships since his allegiance switch were banished four years later when he lined up for Team England in Australia.

“When I got selected for the Gold Coast in 2018 I was over the moon. To be one of millions chosen to go and represent your country, it doesn’t get better than this.”

Yousif’s attention will be fully focused on Tokyo over the coming months to banish his Olympic Games disappointments of the past. Before the opportunity to represent Team England on home soil at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games comes into full view.