Mark Lewis-Francis is focusing on staying injury-free throughout a busy 2011 as he continues his preparations for the London 2012 Olympics.
The Walsall sprinter, who won European and Commonwealth silvers in 2010, has the indoor European Championships and outdoor World Championships coming up.
And he told BBC Sport: "My main focus is staying injury free because the fast times happen when you're in shape.
"This year is all about building blocks for next year."
He added: "If I can have a good 2011, it more or less guarantees a good start to 2012, which is just around the corner now.
"It's exciting, but I'm dreading it at the same time. Every athlete is getting a tingling at the bottom of their stomach and it's about turning that into something positive."
The highlight of the 2011 season will be the World Championships in South Korea in August.
But Lewis-Francis, 28, is also looking forward to the Diamond League - the prestigious global series that will stop off in London and Birmingham this year.
Birmingham hosts the ninth meeting of the 14-event competition on Sunday, 10 July, with London hosting the 12th leg on 5-6 August and Lewis-Francis believes the two meetings will provide a good barometer of what to expect at the London 2012 Olympics
"The Diamond League is very important," stated Lewis-Francis. "It's a big boost to have a meeting in Birmingham - I don't think I've ever run a Grand Prix in my home city and it's always good to have a competition in front of your home crowd.
"It will give the athletes and fans a taster of what to expect in 2012 as all the top athletes will be competing.
"But everything is a stepping stone to the World Championships. It's going to be hard to get in the team, but I'm keeping my drive and ambition and I want to get a spot in the final [of the 100m]."
To do that, Lewis-Francis may well have to officially break the 10-second barrier for the first time in a career that promised much as a teenager, but has only recently started to deliver.http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/athletics/9355300.stm
http://www.londonolympics2012.com/default.aspx?atk=2613
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