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ATHLETICS WORLD INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS:STRANGE THAT David Gillick could be found relaxing by an outdoor swimming pool at a hotel in Doha yesterday, resting, focusing, ahead of a World Indoor Athletics Championships. It’s been 320C and rising in Qatar this week, with clear, sunny skies, although all the action in Doha this weekend is indoors – and just as well, given that sort of heat – as the 13th edition of these championships open in the super-sized Aspire Dome tomorrow morning.

Gillick is part of a 14-strong Irish team, and, after Derval O’Rourke’s withdrawal last week through injury, represents the only real hope of a medal. This is pressure Gillick is both aware of (given he equalled his indoor record of 45.52 seconds in his only race this season) and also comfortable with (given he’s a two-time European Indoor champion).