RICHARD Kilty is hell-bent on getting his chance to shine at Rio 2016 as the sprinter aims to slice off his own little piece of history.

Usain Bolt, as he so often does, has made a fast start to the Rio Olympic Games, collecting 100m gold with consummate ease.

He lined up against Great Britain’s James Dasaolu in his heat while Kilty, from Stockton, was not selected for a solo run in Brazil and instead will have to make to with the 4x100m.

However, that is also not a given with the likes of Kilty, Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, Dasaolu, Ohie Edoburun, James Ellington, Adam Gemili and Chijindu Ujah all vying for a starting spot when the heats get underway today.

But after being mystified as some of golf’s biggest name pulled out of Rio 2016 with the sport set to make its Olympic Games comeback, Kilty is champing at the bit to be given the nod.

“The Olympic Games is the biggest sporting event in the world and I can’t understand people who would want to pull out,” Kilty said.

“While guys like Rory McIlroy have other priorities and the Olympics are perhaps not the pinnacle of their sport, for track and field athletes, it’s the top of the top.

“If you win the Olympics, you’re the best on earth, hands down.

“I want to look back and tell my kids and my grandkids that I was an Olympian. It’s such a shame to see people in other sports not taking it as seriously.

“You don’t know how many chances you’re going to get to compete at the Olympics.”

Kilty’s desire to strut his stuff in Rio is fuelled by the injustice he felt at being left out of the London 2012 squad.

He formally appealed the decision but was left questioning his future in athletics, something the 26-year-old believes has only made him stronger now.

“I did watch that Olympics back home but it was pretty difficult,” he added. “I retired from the sport for a period and was considering a career change and going into the Royal Marines. I was in a really difficult, dark place.

“It was just a poor decision not to take me and I realised I had the ability to go out there and win medals.

“I’ve now got a medal in everything apart from the Olympics and not many British sprinters can say that.”

*Aldi is the first Official Supermarket partner of Team GB and has been championing our nation’s extraordinary athletes on their Road to Rio and encouraging the public to tuck into fresh, affordable, Great British food. For more information visit aldi.co.uk