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British 800m runner Michael Rimmer insists his Berlin World Championship disappointment is already a distant memory as he targets double medal joy in 2010.

Rimmer's World Championship campaign came to a premature end at the semi-final stage in Germany in the summer as a torrid ten months of injury and illness finally caught up with the Liverpool Pembroke and Sefton star.

The 23-year-old - who won the World Championship Trials and AAAs title in July - arrived in Berlin having battled a host of problems, including stress reactions in both feet, compartment syndrome of the calf and a diagnosis of asthma.

And despite his initial disappointment, Rimmer - who has just returned to training - is adamant it will be a different story in the New Year as he targets success at both the European Championships and Commonwealth Games.

"Last year was such a difficult year and I had problems from the off. I never really felt like I was able to get into a rhythm and I had no real fitness base either," said Rimmer.

"I was pleased to win the Trials, so there were a few positives but it was still a season for the bin as my problems impacted in Berlin and I only had a good one-off run in me.

"But it's behind me now and I'm looking forward to next year greatly. I'm looking at it as a great chance to get a couple of medals.

"The Europeans were the first major finals I went to and I got into the final, so that's the minimum I'll be expecting, but I want a medal.

"I want to go to the Commonwealth Games. I've heard a lot of people saying they might miss it and a lot of people have being telling me I should miss it but I'm determined to go.

"It's another fantastic opportunity to get a medal so I need to be going to the Commonwealth Games. I think it is a great chance to breathe some more confidence into my running."

Rimmer, who suffered a stomach upset at the Beijing Olympics and was eliminated in the semis, is just one member of Team GB whose targets are already being shaped by what's on the horizon.

London 2012 is now less than 1000 days away and the Liverpool ace knows a medal this year will take him to a whole new level as he sets his sights on repeating the trick when the Olympic torch lights up the capital.

"I believe a medal would do wonders for my career. It would mean that I have reached the next level," he added.

"I believe that medals get medals so the plan is to get one this year and then hopefully more will follow as the events get bigger and bigger all the way to 2012 - at least that's the plan.

"I've got to look to try and get a couple of medals because I think it's important to carry that success into the World Championships the year after and then obviously the Olympics after that.

"It's one thing being a medal hopeful but it's another putting a marker down and showing everyone that you can do it."

More Than The Games / Eurosport