Great Britain's three M's prepare to
take on the world
Richard Lewis for the IAAF
22 May 2000 - A year ago Dean Macey was an unknown face in British athletics - and if anybody asked how good the country was at the decathlon, the answer would be followed with a smirk.
Twelve months on, Britain not only has one of the best competitors in the world, it has finally discovered a man who is capable of following, if not quite eclipsing, the brilliance of Daley Thompson.
Macey is one of a new brand of British stars who have emerged onto the world scene with no plans to go away; others include Katharine Merry, whose decision to step up to the 400 metres from the 200m looks a stroke of success while at 20, Christian Malcolm is fast developing into a sprinter to be respected.
It was a measure of how far Macey has progressed in his career that when UK Athletics had an official reception to launch their summer season last week, he was the guest of honour.
His unexpected, almost sensational performance at the World Championships in Seville when he finished second behind the Czech Republic's master Tomas Dvorak propelled Macey to unthinkable heights.
He ended the year receiving the Best Newcomer award at the BBC's Sports Personality of the Year show, an evening where he shared the stage with the likes of Muhammad Ali.
"There have been times when it has been hard to comprehend what has happened to me," said Macey. "But throughout it all, I am doing my best not to let it affect me. I am still the same person I was 12 months ago."
Macey had awoken what could become a "sleeping giant" with a fine performance in Arles, France, last May but few could have predicted what would happen in Seville; the unknown quantity delivered by scoring 8556 points, 218 behind Dvorak.
Macey, 22, from Canvey Island on the Essex coast, knows Olympic year will bring different pressures and more expectations but he said: "I don't care what people think I am going to do, I will just worry about my approach and not let anything get to me.
"I am still young, the Olympics will be a fantastic experience but my time will come."
He believes the rest of the decathlon world are almost competing just for silver such is Dvorak's dominance and he added: "Tomas is as good a favourite for gold in Sydney in the decathlon as Michael Johnson is in the 400m."
Macey has targeted the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester as his first opportunity to win a major gold but has his eyes on becoming the first man to smash the 9000 barrier; then, he would be considered in the same class as his British standard-bearer Thompson, the double Olympic champion and former world-record holder.
Birmingham's Merry is coached by Linford Christie and though having made her name at the 100m and 200m, the decision by master and pupil to let her move to 400m could prove the making of her on the international scene.
She tested the waters in Seville when she finished fifth in the 400m final in her first year at the event, a splendid achievement, but has just returned from three months of warm-weather work with Christie and his group of athletes in Australia feeling as good as ever.
"I have never trained so well," said Merry. "I am determined to progress this summer because last year I just tinkered with the 400m but now am heading into the season after a full winter's preparation feeling great.
"The Olympics will be tough because Cathy Freeman is a great athlete and she will have all the home support. But I would like to think I can build on what I did last year."
Malcolm's aim is to reach the 200m final at his first Olympics - and if he carries on where he finished in the winter, his dream could be realised.
Welshman Malcolm won 200m gold at the European Indoor Championships in Ghent and said: "So much has changed in my life since."
He has been in Los Angeles training and has changed his whole approach to life.
"I used to wake up when I wanted to, eat what I wanted to and lived life like a teenager," he said. "But no more. I am on a good, healthy diet, I have a more structured routine and though at one time I was aiming for the semi-finals in Sydney, I now hope I could make the final."
The three M's - Macey, Merry and Malcolm - are finding it hard to disguise their excitement for the four months ahead.
