Rankin Inlet (Nov 15/06) - Canadian Olympian Charles Allen knows he won't sneak up on anyone at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China.

Allen, of Brampton, Ont., came out of virtually nowhere to place sixth in the 110-metre hurdles in Athens, Greece, in 2004.

Charles Allen: is training hard to be successful at the 2008 Olympic Games.

Allen says he has changed his approach due to the increased expectations for the next Games.

"I know I can win a medal and everyone should anticipate that happening," says Allen.

"I'm training hard to be successful, and I will be prepared when I step on the track at Beijing.

"I'm going to overcome the odds and put Canada on the podium.

"I will rise to the occasion."

Allen was in Rankin recently to speak to the Nunavut Youth Academy.

He says the experience he's living means everything to him.

He says it's incredible to have the support to do a sport every day that he truly enjoys.

"I don't have to work right now and I'm happy about that.

"But I'm not living a fabulous life either. It can be a day-to-day struggle."

Allen says once you compete at the Olympics, you realize you're not there representing yourself.

He says it can be strange how many Canadians only realize that once every four years.

"It's like everyone suddenly realizes during the Olympics that I'm out there for the whole country.

"What I do is individualistic in the sense that I'm out there doing what I have to so I'm successful.

"My first time at the Olympics was about me, but, if I get a medal in Beijing, it will be a medal for Charles Allen, my family and everyone in Canada."

Allen says that when he saw Canada take gold in the 4x100 relay at the 1996 Games in Atlanta, Georgia, he wasn't thinking about the four guys who ran the race.

He was thinking how amazing it was to be a Canadian at a time when Canada was on top of the world in that event.

"I hope that's how it comes across to each and every Canadian if I'm successful in obtaining a medal in Beijing.

"Some athletes may say it because they feel that's what they're expected to say.

"But, for me, this is all about Canada every day.

"I'm proud to be Canadian, and I have a chance to make my whole country feel proud to be Canadian - how great is that?"