John William Steffensen (born 30 August 1982) is an Australian former track and field athlete, who specialised in 200 and 400 metres. He won silver at the 2004 Olympics in Athens. His personal bests were 20.79 and 44.73. (wikipedia)
Me and my coach (John Smith) will go back to the drawing board and set our goals for next year . . . right now trying to beat the Yanks in Osaka.
He sets it out for me and I listen, and it is a testament to him, he set this all up. All I had to do was listen and that's the difference in myself, having listened, because I am a hard-headed kid.
The important 400m races are coming up at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne on March 20, 21, 22 and I think we have two or three guys who came step up to the final.
He just said it wasn't right for me at the moment, not good for my running.
He knows all about it and said if you do, it is going to pain your body. Running on the grass is tough, so it was too much of a risk, particularly with the international season just starting.
I am not here to play around, if I wanted to play around, I would take up golf or something like that. My next goal is whatever I put my mind to . . . and now I want to be the best.
(Clark) called me just before the race and wished me good luck and I really hope this makes him happy because he has supported me and he saw the belief I had in myself.
Everything I'm doing at the moment is focused towards the Commonwealth Games and running the sort of time which could help me win an individual medal.
