Despite an impressive run of three podium finishes from four Diamond League meets, hurdler Thomas Barr is confident there is more to come.
In an extended interview on RTÉ 2fm's Game On, the Waterford athlete, 26, revealed that despite his relative success on the circuit recently, he is preparing to peak on the big stage.
The World Championship in Doha, Qatar, is the next major competition in September with the Tokyo Olympics just a year away.
"These races that I was at in the last couple of weeks, I'm not looking at them with as much focus, as much energy and as much motivation as I would a major championship," the European 400m hurdles bronze medallist said.
"I see them as the big one that I need to be really focused on, on point and on my game for. That’s where I will start to come into my own.
"I’m not panicking now, I know [my competitors] are running fast at the moment, I know I will always take a little bit to get going.
I'm not panicking now I’ve seen what the boys are running in front of me
"I’m a little bit like a diesel engine in the morning, I take a bit to warm up and get going.
"That’s how my seasons have always gone, they are a little bit slow to pick up.
"They’ve been a steady progression whereas a lot of that guys that are running that fast now will continue to run in and around those times all the way through the season.
"I’m not panicking now I’ve seen what the boys are running in front of me."
You can hear the full interview below.
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