JAMES Greenwell says he still has more improvement to make after claiming a silver medal at the World Biathle and Triathle Championships in Spain.

The 45-year-old, who lives in Holt, took second place in the Masters Over 40 age group in triathle - shooting, swimming and running - and narrowly missed out on third place in the biathle (running and swimming), finishing fourth in Viverio.

Greenwell, first tasted competitive action as a junior athlete in 1987 when he competed as a modern pentathlete, a contest which comprises of running, swimming, shooting, fencing and show-jumping.

His career, which spanned 16 years, included more than 50 appearances for Great Britain across junior and senior World and European Championships, plus a shortlisting for the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

In early 2003, a torn Achilles tendon injury threatened to stop his competitive career for good, but Greenwell became the first-ever elite athlete in Great Britain to trial a revolutionary new treatment concept of collagen hydrolysate.

The treatment produced remarkable results, which saw him come back into the training only 22 days later.

“In 2012, after watching the London Olympics, I was inspired to come back into competitive sport. I want to understand if after 10 years of retirement I could actually compete again, so I started back training,” he said.

“After 10 years I felt it was time to come out of retirement and actually see if I could compete again, so I started training back in 2012.

“Watching the London Olympics inspired me to get out, so it was very much a legacy concept following the games.”

Greenwell has now won successive British titles in his age group for the past five years and has achieve medals at both European and world level.

Greenwell says he now plans to go one better next year by medalling in both events.

“I raced to a personal best time in Spain, dropping my best from 9:47 to 9:22 seconds,” he added.

“It was a fast race from the gun for all three men who beat me are former world champions.

“All three are former world champions, it was fast from the gun it was just the last run phase, unfortunately I didn’t have the legs for it.

“There is definitely scope to improve for next year, where I am aiming for a win in the biathle and a podium in the triathle.”

Greenwell is also looking at a return to full modern pentathlon.

TROWBRIDGE’S Sarah Wilson took part in the British Modern Triathlon Championships in Solihull at the weekend, finishing second and recording the fastest run shoot time of her age group.