Of the eight spots available in Sunday week's 800m final at the European Athletics Championship in Munich, John Fitzsimons expects two Irish men to be at the starting blocks.
The 24-year-old has built up a budding rivalry with Mark English – one of only three members in the 35-strong Irish squad destined for Munich with a European medal in his possession – and both men harbour realistic ambitions of making the final on 7 August.
Fitzsimons won the national title in 2021, but two-time Olympian English won their duel in Santry earlier this summer before the Donegal native was edged out of a place in the World Championships final last month.
The Kildare native is sixth on the all-time Irish fastest list over the distance and picked up a second place at the Stockholm Diamond League in June, while English comes into this week ranked eighth in the men’s 800m.
"When you have somebody else there at a similar level to you, you don’t have the opportunity to be happy with the level you are at," he told RTÉ Sport
"You’re constantly pushing and looking for that extra one or two per cent going into every race. We are bringing the best out of one another.
"Mark was the third European home as well at the Worlds. I’m sure he is going in with medal aspirations, as he should be, and I consider myself every bit as good as Mark.
Blighted by setbacks earlier in his career, Fitzsimons is on the best injury-free run of his career since a knee issue last November.
The result is consistent performances and two PBs earlier in the season, with a 1:45.66 in Spain the quickest time he has ever posted.
There are eight lanes in the final. I would expect, all going well, for two of them to be filled by Irish athletes
"This whole year has been a step-on from last year which is the most important thing. I’m slowly bridging that gap to being a world class athlete.
"There are eight lanes in the final. I would expect, all going well, for two of them to be filled by Irish athletes. Mark and I are both good enough and in shape to be there. Medals are very hard to come by, I wouldn’t be putting my name down for one just because of the nature of the event, but I expect to be in the final."
Having completed his studies at SETU – formerly known as Carlow IT – Fitzsimons is looking to put himself in the shop window at every opportunity in the hope of getting a full-time contract.
That will be dictated by results and championship performances, something that hasn’t happened for him at senior level to date. The European Indoors and World Outdoors will offer further opportunities to shine in 2023, but a final appearance in Munich would be a fine start.
"Hopefully it comes. The plan is to keep tipping away until I’m noticed."
Fitzsimons says that given the fact he lives at home and his final year consisted of only a couple of modules, he has been as close to a full-time athlete as can be.
I know I'm going into the championship in in PB shape, probably 1:44 high shape if needs be. Realistically, that is world class
Developing his max speed has been a strong focus in training, with regular tests showing the incremental gains.
"Another year of that will really make a distance."
Regardless of what happens in Germany, Fitzsimons is confident there is much more to come from him, in the right environment.
"I know I’m going into the championship in in PB shape, probably 1:44 high shape if needs be. Realistically, that is world class. You need repeatability to do it day-in, day-out.
"I wouldn’t be fond of putting limits on myself, but I believe in my career that a sub 1:44 is achievable. If I got a full year at it and everything is going correctly. I think I am in 1:44 shape right now and I don’t think I have peaked.
"There’s more there, just getting into the right race on the right day."
Follow live and extensive coverage of the European Athletics Championships in Munich, 15 – 21 of August, on RTÉ2.
