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British middle-distance hope Michael Rimmer insists the pressure is off him ahead of the World Championships in Berlin following a poor 2009 season so far.

Illnesses and injuries have wrecked Rimmer's championship preparations, with a stress fracture of his foot, compartment syndrome of the calf and being diagnosed with asthma just some of the obstacles thrown in his path during a torrid ten months.

The 23-year-old showed made the semi-finals at the 2007 Osaka World Championships and last year's Olympics have followed, but this season has failed to get within one and a half seconds of his personal best of one minute 44.68 seconds .

"My attitude is definitely different because of the season that I have had," said Rimmer. "I think it might even help me and make me more relaxed.

"If I was going to Berlin in the PB shape like I was last year, there would be a lot of expectation because I think the time I ran was the fastest by a British athlete in 15 years.

"Doing that, especially in an Olympic year, there was a bit of pressure but I think it is going to be a lot easier being a bit of an underdog and people not quite knowing what shape you are in, I'll be a bit more relaxed.

"It's difficult to know what form I am in because it has been stop-start and I can only go on my training.

"It is going to be a step into the unknown and I am not sure how I am going to feel whether I will be relaxed or whether I will be more nervous but it's another challenge.

"It might be something that I have to deal with in the future and who knows what will happen in London 2012 so it is a good chance to deal with it now."

Rimmer may be short on race-sharpness but he has been in contention in his three major 800m races this season in Paris, London and Berlin, but the Liverpool Pembroke Sefton star is refusing to make any pre-championship predictions.

"I've had a couple of semis in major championships and I have gone there really wanting to make the final," he said, "but I think this is the first year that I might be a bit more restrained.

"In other years I have been in PB shape and I know I am in great form but this year I am just slightly going into the unknown a little bit.

"Even though the races have gone well I have been there or thereabout but you don't quite know and it is still going into the unknown and that is totally different compared to other years.

"But I have just got to stay confident because when I am fit and healthy, which I am now, there are no limitations and I am not going to limit anything I can do."

Watch the World Championships in Berlin everyday from 9am & 5pm LIVE on British Eurosport (Sky 410 / Virgin Media 521) starting Saturday15th August; Also available on your PC via the Eurosport Player - click on the link under the picture to subscribe.

More Than The Games / Eurosport