Some remember Colin Jackson as the greatest British athlete never to have won an Olympic gold medal.

To others he may be more familiar because of his fancy footwork on Strictly Come Dancing. But however you know him Colin Jackson, in pure sporting terms, belongs among the greatest athletes ever to have competed for Great Britain.

Jackson, the most bemedalled British athlete in history and arguably the greatest high hurdler of all-time, won an extraordinary 44 consecutive 110m hurdles races between August 1993 and February 1995 and, in 2002, he became the European champion for the fourth successive time.

In 1989 Colin Jackson was awarded an MBE, and he was subsequently awarded the CBE in 2003.

What are your first memories of the Olympics?
I suppose I first started to become really interested in 1976, at the Montreal Olympics. Donald Quarrie, the Jamaican sprinter, won a gold medal in the 200 metres and I saw my parents were screaming for him so I just joined in. That was the moment I started to become interested in athletics.

When did you start to think you might compete at an Olympics?
I don't think you ever think you will really make it to an Olympic Games. It's just a dream, well I know it was for me.

So I didn’t really contemplate it until the trials for the 1984 Games in Los Angeles when I came third in the 110m hurdles as a 17-year-old. That was when I started to think I might have a future in the sport.

What do remember of your first appearance at the Games in Seoul?
Well I was going there as a 21-year-old with a medal shot. I was the second fastest in the world, so it wasn't just going there to put in a good performance I was going there to win a medal, which added even more pressure. But being 21, it was the best time of my life to experience that, because nothing fazes you.

Does the fact you never won Olympic gold still hurt? Would you swap all your other medals for the one you missed out on?
No I would never swap any of my medals for an Olympic gold. Don’t get me wrong, I would have liked to have added one to my collection but I wouldn’t give any back.

Sometimes I do think about why didn't I win an Olympic gold, but I had a career that spanned such a long time, won 25 major championship medals and the reality is that sometimes it just doesn't happen for you. I think if I felt like I wanted another medal that might be a bit greedy. So I’m happy with my lot.

Do you have sympathy for Liu Xiang, the Chinese favourite for the 110m hurdles gold?
It must be tough being a multi-millionaire and Olympic champion! No seriously he is in a unique position, all athletes will tell you they want to be a champion, he's already the Olympic champion but to try and defend that title on your home soil in front of one and a half billion people who are all expecting you to win – that is tough.

Especially when you've just lost your world record and you're not running as well as you have done. You can see where that added pressure will really start to build up. So he's got a lot to live up to, I just wish him all the best, but Dayron Robles wants that title.

Are you optimistic about Great Britain’s chances on the track in Beijing?
I'm very optimistic actually. I really feel that the team is developing nicely and I think we have the potential to get our athletes through quite of a few rounds of the Games, and even win some medals.

I think we have got the right team, there’s a good balance between youth and experience and it stands us in very good stead for what I hope will be a fantastic Games for us in four years' time.

Who would be your one to watch in Beijing?

I think Greg Rutherford has a great chance in the long jump. He jumped really well at the weekend and that kind of performance at an Olympic Games could get you a medal. Greg jumped 8.07m to win gold in 1964, so Greg has a great chance and if he can produce his best on the day then you never know what might happen.

Colin Jackson CBE is ambassador for The Standard Chartered Great City Race - a charity run through London's Square Mile For details, visit www.cityrace.co.uk