Canvey's Dean Macey is hopeful his injury jinx is finally behind him - thanks to coach Greg Richards.

Macey, 23, was forced to beat the pain barrier to win world championship silver and bronze in the past three years - not to mention that heartbreaking Olympic fourth.

This season, though, the decathlete has enjoyed a rare injury-free winter as he prepares for the Commonwealth Games and European Championships.

He says the reason is a more mature approach - and credits Richards and national multi-event guru Charles van Commenee for the transformation.

"Greg and Charles sat me down and told me I can't keep pushing myself so hard," admitted Macey.

"They wanted me to go down to around 80 per cent of my efficiency, but I told them I'd do 95 per cent, so it's a bit of a compromise.

"In previous years I'd push myself hard all the time, but now I'm older and wiser and can see there are occasions when I need to slow down.

"I've grown up a bit since I was Jack the Lad at the Seville world championships three years ago. Nowadays, if I feel a few niggles I have the day off. I see that doing 95 per cent rather than 110 per cent now will make me fitter later on.

"I'm in good shape at the moment, but there's a long way to go to the season yet, so I'm not tempting fate."

Macey revealed that his more cautious approach has also seen him pull out of his scheduled opening decathlon in Gotzis, Austria. Fear of injury so close to the Commonwealth Games is the reason.

However, he will now step up the intensity of his training on a five-week training trip to Los Angeles.

He departs on March 27 - inevitably glad to see the back of the British weather.

"It's difficult to increase my workouts in the 40mph winds at home," joked the former lifeguard.

"Those American guys don't know how lucky they are to have bright sunshine all the time!

"It's gone really well in previous years out there and I've come back in great shape. It just allows you to take that next step.

"I'll be doing everything I can out there. I've got two big decathlons in two weeks later this year and I want to do well in both."

Published Monday, March 18, 2002