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After winning a record fourth European javelin title in Munich on Friday night, Steve Backley has reaffirmed his desire to defend his crown in four years' time.

The first Briton to notch up four successive victories in these championships, Backley revealed that ever since losing out to Jan Zelezny for the Olympic gold medal two years' ago, defeat has made him even more determined to extend his career.

The silver medallist in Australia had a brilliant opening throw in Sydney, only to watch the the Czech, the greatest javelin thrower ever, demolish his performance and win a third gold medal.

Deadly rivals but equally close friends, Backley said having to settle for silver behind Zelezny had made him immediately refocus on his career.

The 33-year-old said: Yes, maybe if I had won the gold medal, I might have retired. But as soon as the competition finished in Sydney, I said to myself I have to do another Olympics.

"A lot of focus will now go into getting properly prepared for Athens," said Backley.

That long-term ambition saw Backley peak perfectly for this year's two majors.

Restricting his competition schedule to a handful of events, Backley, in the past fortnight, has collected both the Commonwealth and European titles.

The Londoner does not see why he shouldn't be back defending both in Melbourne and Gothenburg, four years from now.

"I'm not writing off the possibility - I'll only be 37."

But there is another key factor.

As much as he loves winning medals, the quiet man of British athletics also admits he enjoys the day-to-day living of being a sportsman - even the rigorous training routine.

While his team-mate, world triple jump record-holder Jonathan Edwards cites the daily grind of keeping himself fit as one of the main reasons he might retire at any time, Backley says it is what drives him along.

"I love training," said Backley. "I quite enjoy the winter stuff. It's a nice lifestyle, invigorating and physical.

"When you're running down to the track with the wind blowing your hair all over, you know you are still a young man. It keeps the fire burning."

But all that hard work has to be skilfully transferred into not only breaking world records - the Cambridge Harrier has three to his credit, the first in 1990 making him the first British thrower ever to do so - and winning championship medals, but believing 100and a little bit more in yourself.

He successfully did that on Friday. Backley, lying second to this year's world leader Sergey Makarov - who threw 88.54metres with his first attempt - showed all of the qualities which have won him 15 major championship medals.

The Russian seemed to have the gold medal sewn up. But then in the fifth round, the Commonwealth record-holder, who had been throwing consistently all evening, finally got it right technically.

His javelin flew out to 88.54m. Backley said: "If you set your stall on your first attempt and settle for it, then it gets difficult for you. My attitude is I'm not settling for that - I know I can do better.

"Normally I have my best throws in the first or last rounds. This time it came in the fifth, and I think that was a crucial factor. The competition had been going on for one-and-a-half hours and everyone was tired."

Now the fourth European gold medal is tucked away with the others won in Split, Helsinki and Budapest, by Backley.

He said: "The plan is to take it one year at a time. Athens is less than two years away and I don't see why I cannot continue until at then."