‘I am learning every day’

Olympic 400-metre hurdles finalist Malik James-King says he is entering the new season with a changed mindset as he sets his sights on consistently running below the 48-second barrier.

The 26-year-old, who owns a personal best of 47.42 seconds, endured an inconsistent campaign last season but still finished as the fastest Jamaican in the event for 2025.

James-King narrowly missed qualifying for the final of the men’s 400m hurdles at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan, after finishing fourth in his semi-final in a season’s best 48.01 seconds.

Reflecting on his 2025 campaign, James-King said that while there were positives, there was also room for improvement.

“We put in some work because the season was kind of up and down, and we tried to correct something in the last part, but we fell a little short and I ended the season with 48.01. It could have been better, but that is the way things go sometimes,” he said.

James-King added that he will be taking a new approach to the way that he does things this year, and his preparation has already shown encouraging signs.

“I am just staying focused and still listening to coach, getting the strength up and getting the body right, and everything will fall into place. I think my mindset has to be right, because once I train my mind to be ready, I can do anything,” he said.

“Honestly, I have been surprising myself in training, because I am a little bit ahead of last year’s progress, so I am excited to see what the season will entail for me this year.”

James-King pointed out that the 400m hurdles is a very tough event, but he noted that his love for it continues to drive him.

“The 400-metre hurdles is a tough event but we have to do it, and I love it, and over a period of time it gets natural because this is my job, and I always want to do my job to the best of my abilities,” he stated.

“I have to get back down in the 47s, because in my career I have actually run 47s three times, so I know what it takes to get to 47, and I just have to put in the work and stay focused and I will get there,” he said.

James-King also said that improved recovery, nutrition, and planning have become key areas of focus as he matures as a professional athlete.

“My knowledge is getting better, so I know how to recover and how to eat, so I am learning every day. Last year I was doing what I thought was right, but I wasn’t doing it the right way. But now I have sat down and discussed with coach and agent; we have figured out a plan on how to get it right, and so we are on a good path right now,” he underscored.