It seems like an age ago that Croydon Harrier James Dasaolu ran the second fastest 100m time in British history.

A series of career-stalling injuries prevented the 28-year-old from building on that success, but former sprinter Christian Malcolm is adamant the Croydon star will be back with a bang next year with the Rio Olympics looming large on the horizon.

Dasaolu shocked the world of British sprinting at the 2013 National Championships as he won his semi-final in a time of 9.91 seconds.

However, the effort took its toll as he pulled out of the final through injury, something which lingered with him for the rest of the year.

The fastest he recorded in 2015 was 10.12secs when he finished fifth at the Anniversary Games, but Malcolm is not prepared to rule him out just yet.

“James can still improve and I think he knows that himself,” said Malcolm, speaking at a Get Set for Community Action event at Birmingham’s Villa Park.

“He will be the first to admit that he didn’t have the best year, but it wasn’t because he has lost his talent or anything like that.

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“He’s still quick and the exciting thing is that it is an Olympic year and when it’s an Olympic year everyone raises their game.

“Not only that, people come out of the woodwork too and I am looking forward to seeing that.”

Dasaolu is one of five Brits to have ever run under 10 seconds, with Chijindu Ujah and Adam Gemili both doing so since his 2013 exploits.

And Malcolm, who won two World Championship 4x100m bronze medals as well as a 200m European silver, believes this domestic competition will be what spurs Dasaolu on to new heights.

“I think James will thrive on the competition and it’s going to be so exciting because CJ has kicked on and he is hungry to move on more,” he added.

“Adam knew he was onto something big and just wants to get back to that, Richard Kilty is looking to get injuries out of the way and go sub-ten and James is going to be so hungry to show that he is still the man.”

Get Set for Community Action is a new UK-wide programme for young people and their communities created by the British Olympic Foundation and British Paralympic Association and made possible thanks to the Big Lottery Fund. To find out more go to getsetaction.org.uk