LOUGHBOROUGH discus thrower Abdul Buhari enjoyed a breakthrough year in 2011 – not that many people really noticed.

Just months before the season began Buhari was without a coach and considering his future in the sport, after a string of career threatening injuries.

But just four months after linking up with Mark Wiseman, he had won the English and British titles, smashed his personal best and booked his place at the World Championships in Daegu.

However, Buhari still doesn’t have the name recognition of Lawrence Okoye, the promising schoolboy rugby player turned athlete who ended the year ranked ninth in the world, after a British record 67.63 metres, but controversially wasn’t even selected for the Daegu.

“2011 was certainly my breakthrough after a torrid few years,” said Buhari. “I had no coach in 2009 and really struggled, however l still finished third in the UK that year.

“2010 was equally as challenging as l had two career threatening injuries which l found challenging to get over. Nevertheless l was determined to come back and prove that l am still a world-class discus thrower.

“Overall 2011 was a very successful year for British discus throwing. We had a lot more media coverage than we are used to which was good.

“All the attention on Lawrence did not affect me at all, the attention is well deserved. Having focus given to other athletes has never really bothered me. I always concentrate on my performance and what l need to do.”

Four British athletes achieved the discus qualifying standard for the World Championships –something that hasn’t happened in a throwing field event for some time, presenting selectors with a difficult choice.

Buhari and Carl Myerscough, currently banned from the Olympic team because his previous doping suspension, finished top two in the trials to book their slots, leaving Charles van Commenee and his team to choose between Brett Morse and Okoye, who after his storming start to the season saw his form evaporate at exactly the wrong time.

But Buhari believes such strength in depth can only be good in Olympic year and after missing out on the World Championship final by just two metres is determined not to make the same mistake this summer.

More lottery funding was the reward for his 2011 season, although he still works two days a week at a Swiss bank and has a less than desirable long-distance relationship with his coach.

“I was very disappointed at the World Championships, I should have made the final and l was so close,” he added.

“We got our peaks wrong but l learnt a lot and I think not making the final has pushed me harder so that it does not happen again. The champs made me more confident that l can accomplish my goals in my athletics career.

“Development funding is helping a great deal, mainly because now l am able to access the medical staff.

“It is incredibly difficult to balance training and work. Sometimes l don’t know how l manage and l do wonder why l put myself through it, although l enjoy the business side of my life and find it works the other side of my brain.

“Training by myself is not a choice. Mark travels twice a week for two to three hours to me and back home. The other four sessions l do by myself. Ideally it’s not what l would want but we have to make it work.”

© Sportsbeat 2012