Santo Domingo.– As the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games loom ever closer, Dominican 400m hurdler Felix Sanchez trains harder to be ready to defend his gold medal.

Sanchez was plagued by injury troubles throughout 2005-2006, but the 30-year-old champion achieved an important silver medal in Osaka which marked his gradual return to full confidence.

After failing to make the final of the 400m hurdles at the Sydney Olympics, Sanchez wore a souvenir red band around his wrist as motivation. He wore it when winning 43 consecutive races from 2001 to 2004, including his two world titles and Olympic title. He retired it after the Athens Olympics, and donated it to the IAAF for auction.