MIDDLESBROUGH long jumper Chris Tomlinson has admitted his Beijing Olympic heartbreak is now just a distant memory as he bids to book his place on the plane to the World Championships in Berlin.

The 28-year-old has endured a torrid 12 months with a calf injury ruling him out of the Olympics in Beijing and an Achilles problem curtailing his bid for medals at the European Indoor Championships in March.

However, what doesn’t break you makes you stronger and that has certainly been the case for Tomlinson who tops the British rankings by nearly 30 centimetres following a leap of 8.23m.

The former Gateshead Harrier has picked up wins in Spain, Italy and at the inaugural Super8 event in Cardiff since recovering from injury as well as competing at last month’s European Team Championships.

Tomlinson finished fifth in Portugal and will now head to the world trials in Birmingham this weekend with the past 12 months nothing but a distant memory.

“To be honest I am in the best shape of my life – I have jumped just a couple of inches short of my personal best and I feel better than I have ever before,” said Tomlinson.

“And there is a whole host of reasons for that. I had a disappointing indoor season and it was a really difficult time for me. Looking back mentally I wasn’t quite there.

“What happened to me before the Olympics knocked me for six. It took months and months to get out of my system.

It took me nine months to really put behind me – people have a baby in that time.

“Now I feel like a different athlete and I am enjoying my athletics again. Sometimes you forget why you get into sport in the first place but now I am competing with a smile on my face again.”

Despite Tomlinson’s change the same rivals remain with Greg Rutherford – who filled the Middlesbrough ace’s void at the Olympics last year – his main contender.

His new regime has seen him start training with the 22- year-old British champion but Tomlinson admitted friend will become foe in Birmingham.

“Greg is still a rival but we get on well together – training with him drives you on because he jumps a distance and you want to top it,” added Tomlinson.

“There’s always banter between us but on the track it is serious and we both want to win in Birmingham.”

Vicky Barr, meanwhile, knows she needs to run a race of a lifetime to book her place at the World Championships.

Barr was the fourth quickest in the women’s 400m heats at last night’s Aviva UK Championships, crossing the line in 53.84 seconds, nearly two seconds slower than Olympic and world champion Christine Ohuruogu.

But with Lee McConnell and Nicola Sanders – both ahead of the Chester-le-Street athlete in the UK rankings – absent through injury, Barr knows she can’t rely on the selectors and must qualify in the top two in today’s final.

Dwain Chambers was solid, if unspectacular, as he eased through the 100m heats as the quickest qualifier.

The European indoor champion won with ease in 10.20 seconds – a time that won’t strike fear into his world rivals but still eclipsed the best in Britain.

■ As principal partner of UKA, McCain has a long term commitment to athletics that will have a significant impact on the development of athletic talent in the UK and will increase opportunities for people of all ages to get involved in the sport. For more information, go to mccaintrackandfield.co.uk