LITTLEDEAN hurdler Richard Davenport has the 2012 Olympics back in his sights after a hugely encouraging performance at the World University Games in China.

Richard, whose athletics career has been blighted by serious injury, won both his 400m hurdles heat and his semi-final in Shenzhen before finishing fifth in the final in a time of 49.88secs.

America Joshua Anderson took the gold medal in 49.03.

Richard, 25 (pictured), also had the thrill of being made captain of the GB athletics squad for the games in China – the second biggest participation event in the world after the Olympics.

The Loughborough student told The Forester: "I was feeling really good in the final, I had a good lane and was leading going into hurdle nine.

"I made a late decision to take one more step going into the hurdle, which in hindsight was a mistake. I lost momentum and some speed and got overtaken by a couple of guys for bronze.

"It's a shame because I'm usually a good finisher. However, my aim beforehand was just to get to the final. The standard was also much higher than I ever expected. There were plenty of people going straight on to the World Championships.

"It was an awesome experience, they built a 45,000 seater stadium just for the opening ceremony and we competed in a 60,000 stadium that was full. There were 200,000 volunteers around the athletes' campus making sure we had everything we needed.

"It's a buzz to be competing at that level again."

It's been a terrific comeback season for Richard, who has shown the world he still has the ability to compete at the top level.

He ran 49.76secs in the Aviva World Trials & UK Championships in Birmingham in June – currently the 13th fastest time in Europe this season.

Richard is now ranked fifth in the country for the 400m hurdles. The qualifying time for next year's Olympics is 49.5secs, which he thinks he can achieve.

Failing that, he should be firmly in the running for a place in the GB team for the European Championships, because whoever is selected for the Olympics will not be eligible for the European Championships.

"I've got three weeks off then it's back to winter training," he said.

"I'm hoping to get UK Athletics Funding but it might be touch and go. However, things have gone so well this year I have to keep going."