Dean machine in Daley's shadow

Dean Macey: The new Daley Thompson?

Trying to follow an act such as Daley Thompson is about as straightforward as writing a sequel to a Shakespeare classic.

Thompson was the perfect all-round athlete. A rich combination of speed, power and mental strength, entwined with a likeable, media-friendly personality.

But Dean Macey is threatening to steal a rumble of Thompson's thunder.

Macey burst into Britain's sporting consciousness at the World Championships in Seville last year when, as a 21-year-old unknown from Canvey Island, he clinched a shock silver medal.

I love the attention - it's what I've been dreaming abou

  Dean Macey

And while his fourth place in Sydney in his first Olympics will be bitterly disappointing for the Essex star, it is further evidence that he has the potential to become a worthy successor to the mighty Thompson.

Macey and Thompson have a lot in common. Both have a frightening amount of faith in their own ability - Macey is already talking of when he breaks the world record - and both are at their brilliant best when they are in competition.

And then there is that natural ebullience - some would call it "swagger" - and love of the sporting spotlight that both these all-round athletes possess.

Mighty feat: Macey is yet to match Daley Thompson

But there is one significant difference between the two all-round athletes - and that is clearly in their track and field achievements.

Macey has yet to scale the heights managed by Thompson, who won two Olympic golds in the 1980s and was a bona fide national idol.

It is important to remember that Macey only just sneaked silver in Seville by nine points - and Britain's brightest young decathlete found that his build-up to the Olympics was badly hit by injury, which always meant his medal charge would be a struggle.

Second time unlucky

Having already won silver in the world junior championships in Sydney in 1996, he always hoped Australia would be a lucky stomping ground.

Seville is the highlight so far of Macey's career

It proved not to be this time around - but regardles of his finish in Sydney 2000, Macey certainly has a huge future ahead of him in the event.

The confident youngster declared after his Seville success: "I honestly think that I've got 400 to 500 points more in me. Five hundred points would take me over the world record, and that's what I'm looking for in five years' time.

"I'm not looking at it now, but that is honestly what I can see."

Macey also revels in the attention which his performance in Seville created with both the press and the British public. His performance certainly provided two solid days of entertainment for British spectators on his way to winning silver.

Attention-seeker

"I love the attention," he said before the Games began. "I honestly can't wait for everything that is going to happen.

"It's what I have been dreaming about for the last two years. Every time I saw people celebrating on the television, I'd say to myself, I want to be there, I want to be there."