Kyle Langford will not compete for a place at the Olympics at the British Championships this weekend and says he wants to “just enjoy running” ahead of next year’s World Championships instead.

The Garston 800m athlete, who won the British and European Junior titles last year, could still join fellow Team GB hopefuls in Rio de Janeiro next month, as he has already set a time inside the qualifying boundary, but said he was wary of travelling “for the sake of it”.

Langford, pictured, set that time, of 1.45.78, at the Olympic Stadium last July but has since struggled with a six-month injury lay-off, and was four seconds outside the qualifying time when he raced in Manchester earlier this month, his only competitive 800m of the year.

The 20-year-old said the stress of competitive running had contributed to an illness suffered as he recovered from that injury, and added there would be “pros and cons” whether or not he travelled to Brazil if he were to be selected.

He said: “The last two years I have not been able to just race, because I’m always focusing on championships.

“If I can have a bit of fun with it and do what I want, if it leads me to Rio then great; but my focus is on London.

“My goal seemed just to be going to the Olympics for the sake of it, and the thought of not going is not a massive issue.

“We want to get more out of my year than just getting to a championship race. It’s partly looking to next year for the World Championships in London.

“It’s the same as the Olympics, it has the same requirements and it will have the same runners, but it’s just got a different name. Olympics-wise, Tokyo in 2020 is my aim to get a medal so that’s the real goal.

“If you get two qualifying times you can go anyway, and I already have one.

“If you are young and you have got a time and you can show you’re in form, that should also do it, and if I can do that they won’t be able to not take me.”

Langford revealed the decision not to take part in the British Championships, which start today and continue until Sunday, was taken earlier this week by his coach, George Harrison.

He said: “George told me on Tuesday he didn’t think I should race, and I agreed. I’d had a bit of a gut feeling, and I ended up having a really good session that day.

“I had a feeling when I had the illness after the injury, which is the kind of thing that can happen when you’re rushing with everything.

“It was the fact that it wasn’t just affecting me mentally, but also the race practices weren’t good enough.

“Whether I go or I don’t, there are pros and cons to both scenarios.”