• London Olympics 2012

Rival warns Greene he won't even medal in 2012

Dai Greene was triumphant in Daegu last year © Getty Images

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American hurdler Bershawn Jackson has warned Dai Greene that he won't win a medal at London 2012, in an astonishing attack on his rival.

Greene, the reigning European, Commonwealth and world champion in the 400 metres hurdles, is considered one of Team GB's brightest gold medal prospects at this summer's Olympic Games - as he bids to add the one remaining major medal that eludes him to his collection.

Jackson, however, is adamant the Welshman will not experience victory in London - saying he and his fellow American competitors are ready to spoil the party.

"It's going to be really difficult for [Greene] in his country to stop the Americans from coming and sweeping in 2012," Jackson said, according to the website FastLiveShow. "He wrote a cheque that he can't cash [and] I'm coming ... you're going to know I'm in the race."

Jackson appears to have been worked himself into a frenzy about some previous remarks from Greene, who has generally avoided any comment about his rivals in recent months.

The unprovoked attack could also be an attempt to remove some of the 26-year-old's psychological advantage ahead of the Games, with Greene previously crediting that for some of his success.

Jackson noted that he spotted Greene's talent and offered him encouragement when he was an inexperienced athlete struggling to make an impression in the seniors - before suggesting that it was more luck than ability that enabled him to win gold at the World Championships in Daegu late last year.

"When Greene was up and coming, I always said great things about him to the British Federation and the IAAF," Jackson said. "The years I dominated, I always uplifted him saying one day he is going to be great.

"But Greene said he knew we weren't going to medal; we were too overrated. What does he mean by being 'overrated?' I don't know.

"You're talking about a guy who won the worlds in 48.2. The time he ran with wasn't outstanding and it wasn't a point where he just basically dominated the event.

"It was a situation where Angelo [Taylor] was hurt; Kerron [Clement] was hurt; I was hurt. It happens like that every once in a while."

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