Having been a part of gold medal-winning Jamaican relay teams at the London Olympics and Moscow's World Championships, it would be fair to say that Kemar Bailey-Cole has shown his individual ability over the last 12 months.
The 22-year-old won 4x100m gold at this summer's Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, as well as the top prize in the men's 100m, where he pipped England's Adam Gemili.
Here, Sports Mole caught up with the sprinter to discuss his performances in 2014, as well as looking ahead to Rio and what it is like to train alongside his compatriot Usain Bolt.
When you reflect on 2014 as a whole and particularly the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, would you say it's been the best year of your career to date?
"Overall, yes I would say so. It took me a while to get going but I was confident in my training plan and I feel that I performed when I had to. I would have liked to run a PB but it was important for me to get my first international title.
How have you developed over the last year? Would you say that you are a better sprinter now than the one that helped Jamaica to win gold in the relay at London 2012? If so, how?
"I would say that I am. I train all the time to improve so if I am not better now than I was in 2012 I have been doing something wrong. I am definitely stronger than I was and I have been working on being technically better."
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What improvements are you hoping to make in 2015 ahead of Rio 2016?
"I just want to improve at everything. My start, my pickup, my mid-race, my finish. If I improve all of those even just a tiny bit, that's a big overall difference."
You came fourth at the World Championships in 2013. Does that provide added motivation to get a medal at Beijing in 2015?
"I don't think it provides added motivation. I am motivated to win medals, which is what I want to do. That was the case in 2013 and it will be the case in 2015.
Of course, everyone is already talking about the Olympics and I'm sure your preparations are already underway. You'll be 24 when Rio comes around - arguably the prime age for a sprinter. What are you hopes for Rio?
"I honestly haven't thought too much about Rio yet. I could put up some hopes and ambitions and then after this year they may all change. So, the best thing to do is focus on this year and make the most of that and then see where we are at."
Do you have a race in mind for Rio? The 100m or the 200m? Or maybe both?
"Definitely the 100 and we'll have to see about the 200."
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You'll obviously be up against your fellow countryman and possibly the best sprinter ever in Usain Bolt. How daunting is it to compete against him? Or does he act as an inspiration to you?
"It's not daunting. I enjoy the competition. Me and Usain train together and we get along so having him out there on the track with me is just like at training."
Does Bolt ever give you advice. Is he easy to approach for that sort of thing?
"Yes, we speak. Like I say we are training partners so all the time we are discussing things. It is no big deal for us to talk."
You've been described as the next big thing by your coach. Does that bring with it pressure, or are you determined to prove him right?
"There is no added pressure. I believe the most pressure any athlete feels is from themselves. I have high expectations and so I see it more as my coach believing the same as I do."
Also, why do you feel that particularly in recent memory, Jamaica has been able to produce some of the world's best sprinters?
"The competition is there right from school age. You go to Championships and see the talent, it is only natural that some of those will make it to the top. We're used to competing at a high level in front of big crowds from a young age and so we thrive in the environment."
Liam Apicella
