SPRINTER Montell Douglas is setting her sights on the 2008 Beijing Olympics after a successful indoor season.

But the 21-year-old’s ultimate ambition is standing on the top of the medal rostrum when the Olympics comes to London in 2012.

Douglas, who lived in Chatham before becoming a student at Brunel University in Uxbridge, Middlesex, performed with distinction at the European Indoor Championships in Birmingham earlier this month.

Despite appearing at her first major championships, Douglas showed no nerves as she improved her personal best time in the 60m and just missed out on a place in the final.

She said: “Going to Birmingham and competing in a British vest in front of the home fans was a great experience.

“It was my first major championships so I was nervous and wanted to prove myself. You always worry about whether you are going to perform under pressure, so to run a personal best of 7.29 in the heats and another of 7.28 in the semi-finals was pleasing.

“My only disappointment was that I missed out on a place in the final by one-hundredth of a second.

“Because I was in the outside lane and away from it I didn’t really know who was around me and got pipped to fourth place. But I have learned from that experience.

“Major championships are where I want to be. My aim is on qualifying for the Beijing Olympics and by the time it comes to the 2012 Games in London I want to be the best in the world and winning the gold medal.”

An Olympic gold in the 100m or 200m would be a first for a British woman athlete and would be a fairytale climax to an athletics career that saw Douglas star of as a 12-year-old high jumper.

Douglas, a second-year sports sciences student, has been coached by Ayo Fayola for the past five years, and gets regular advice from training partner Donna Fraser.

She said: “Donna is a real hero of mine and someone who has always helped me out and given me advice."

"She came fourth in the 400m at the Sydney Olympics and has had a great career.

“My aim is to compete at Worlds and Olympics like her and if I can keep improving and getting stronger, then I don’t see why I can’t.”