Gold is only the beginning for Greene as Welsh chance looms

Greene cruised to a commanding victory in Barcelona on Saturday evening, leading a British – and Welsh – one-two ahead of Rhys Williams in a time of 48.12 seconds.

That equalled the second fastest time ever by a British athlete, David Hemery's run at the Olympics in Mexico City back in 1968 also being a world record at the time. But Greene knows he needs to break the 48-second barrier to be a contender at global championships, which would bring Akabusi's national record of 47.82secs in his sights.

"I've seen the (Mexico City) race and I have a signed book by David Hemery from a few years ago but I've never met him myself," said the 24-year-old from Llanelli. "I know the time means a lot and to be running times in that sort of company is a fantastic feeling.

"I think I could have got a little closer to Akabusi's time in the final. I felt when I was coming down the home straight that I was taking the barriers quite safely, as opposed to trying to skim extra tenths or hundredths of a second out of the race.

"I know that if I'm in a race with some faster people, maybe they'll bring it out of me and I'll get close to 47.82. I've got the Aviva London Grand Prix in a couple of weeks, which might be a good chance, and some other Diamond League meetings next month.

"But I find it hard sometimes to emulate the nerves and adrenaline you get in championships. The Commonwealth Games is the next one for me, so that's the next one where I have a personal best on my mind. I'd much rather do it at the bigger championships because, at the end of the day, that's what people are remembered for. Last year Berlin brought the best out of me (he finished seventh at the World Championships) and this year it was exactly the same."

Several top stars will not be competing in the Commonwealth Games – Jessica Ennis and Usain Bolt among the biggest absentees – but Greene is looking forward to Delhi.

"I missed out last time in Melbourne," he added. "I went along as part of the 4x400m squad but I didn't get to run so I'm not going to shy away from the Commonwealth Games.

"It comes around every four years and I'm not so picky with competitions that I can let an opportunity like that slide. I'm looking forward to putting on the Welsh vest because it's not very often that we get to do it."

Greene came into the championships as a hot favourite to win gold but will not stop there.

"Every year you have a meeting with Charles (van Commenee, UK Athletics head coach) and one of the markers I had was winning the European championships so that's the first box ticked," he added. "There's one for next season, and the next."