Athletics: Macey's decathlon haul

Dean Macey has set himself an incredible schedule of three decathlons in 10 weeks to prove he is the best all-round athlete in the world.

Macey overcame an injury in the opening event of this summer's World Championships in Edmonton to win the bronze medal but the Canvey Island athlete has already planned his programme for next year and he is bidding to secure a mark which even Britain's former double Olympic champion, Daley Thompson did not achieve.

Macey, 23, will aim to win two golds in less than two weeks at the toughest combination of athletics events. His main focus is on winning his first major senior title at the Commonwealth Games in Manchester in July, but nine days after that decathlon ends he will be in action at the European Championships in Munich. Macey also plans to compete in the multi-events competition at Gotsiz in Austria at the start of June.

Thompson had at least an extra 10 days when winning both the Commonwealth and European titles in 1986, in Edinburgh and Stuttgart.

"The Commonwealths are the priority," said Macey. "I would like to see the Commonwealth and British record go and I can't think of any better place than Manchester to do it. I can't miss the chance of winning gold in my home country. The Europeans and Commonwealths have always been on the same year but I have a nine-day gap, which may take some doing even after doing Gotsiz.

"It is a busy schedule but it is a great thing to aim for. I have never lined up for an event before with someone saying 'And in lane four, it is champion Dean Macey'. What an adrenaline rush that would give me if it happened at the Europeans with me as Commonwealth champion.

"I still class myself as potentially the best decathlete in the world and, after a nine day gap, I am going to have a serious amount of lady luck on my side to get that European gold.

"Number one aim is to get the Commonwealths, and if I did achieve both golds it would be amazing. It is a realistic possibility. Lady luck is going to look down on me sooner than later."