Rio 2016: Jack Green speaks about fighting depression to qualify for 400m hurdles semi-final

The Team GB athlete had contemplated quitting the sport altogether earlier this year

Team GB athlete Jack Green has spoken about his fight with depression after making it through to the semi-final of the men's 400m hurdles.

Green spent 18 months out from athletics after London 2012 as he struggled with the mental health condition.

"I've got a lot of gratitude now, I really appreciate this journey," Green told the BBC.

"I didn't last time. I just saw it as another step up the ladder, thinking I could win this and that."

Green came third in his heat, taking advantage of a rival's late stumble to grab a qualifying spot.

“It’s hard to make an Olympics, let alone a semi-final, and hopefully a final. I just want to enjoy it," he added.

"I'm not on medication because I can't run on it, and yet I'm doing alright.

"We made a lot of steps forward in terms of my mental health and psychology, and things are in a great place."

In July, Green admitted he'd considered quitting athletics altogether ahead of Rio 2016.

"It was only a few months ago that I was going to retire and was looking for jobs and applied for jobs because things weren't in a good place," he told the Express.

"I was on anti-depressants but the problem is I can't run on them so had to come off.

"Whenever I'm on them I can't run faster than 80 per cent.

"So I'm making that sacrifice. It's a typical athlete thing of funding myself, and I'm self-coached as well.

"I coach myself and train on my own. It has been a tough journey."

Green's semi-final is scheduled for Wednesday morning at 1.25am BST. He is joined by fellow Briton Seb Rodger, after a disqualification bumped his teammate up into the faster losers list.