by Alex Hoad

Jack Green says the ‘mourning period’ after his London Olympic disappointment is over and he is in the best shape of his career coming into the outdoor season.

The 21-year-old former Brockhill School, Hythe, pupil crashed out of the 400m hurdles in the semi-final in August (pictured) and a disappointing indoor campaign this winter was cut short by problems with a dislocated shoulder.

However, Maidstone-born Green – part of legendary GB hurdles coach Malcolm Arnold’s squad, based in Bath – admitted: "Things are going well. I am enjoying training for the first time in a while.

"There is a huge correlation between enjoyment and performance. About a month ago, I got over the mourning period from last year. I’m looking forward rather than back and I’m enjoying sessions again.

"I am committed to training. I decided I was not going to miss a rep and I have taken part in 26 consecutive sessions, which has made my coach happy."

The former Mid-Kent College pupil added: "I had an MRI on my shoulder and don’t need surgery which is good news. I am doing some work to strengthen the muscles at the back of the socket and hopefully that should do the trick."

He added: "Training is going well and in the gym, on the track and over hurdles, I’m up on previous years and the best I’ve ever been."

Green flies out to Florida on April 2 for some warm weather training ahead of a meeting at Penn University later in the month when he will represent GB in a 4x400m and a trip to Jamaica for a track meeting there.

Green's Green Machine Sport talent stable, providing support and advice to 13 talented teens from across the county, held its second seminar at the Julie Rose Stadium on Saturday.

The second monthly seminar included a presentation about contracts, agents and branding from Nike’s former head of marketing Dave Scott and an inspirational talk from Paralympics GB gold medal-winning rower David Smith, who taught himself to walk again in the 14 months before claiming gold at London 2012.

GMS member Maximilian Nicholls, from Ashford School, achieved a superb sixth place in the English Schools Cross-Country Championships in Derby on Saturday, helping Kent to secure a silver medal in the team event while there were more GMS medals at the Kent Indoor Championships at Lee Valley.