It is the second time he has won a bronze at the Championships, having also finished third in Rio three years ago.

His victory yesterday is his fifth medal at a major championship - all bronze - having also collected medals at three European Championships.

Another medal gives Burton the focus he needs as he strives towards his ultimate goal - the Olympics in London in two years' time.

"I'd probably give up all of the medals I've won to be top of the podium in London," he said.

"I'm 31 years old now and I love the training but there would be no point in me doing the sport if I didn't realistically think I could be top of the podium in two years' time.

It's just a case of doing everything I can to ensure that happens.

"The expectations will be greater but I think you rise to the pressure and go to a new high or you break under the pressure.

"I'm trying to make sure that I rise to the pressure.

"Every country that hosts the Games has better medal counts than they do in other Olympics so I think the partisan crowd will help us to career-best performances.

"No-one wants to go to London and under-perform.

"Sport is about pressure, it's not about messing about."

Returning to the city where he won the Grand Slam last December, Burton won his first four fights in the under-81kg class yesterday.

He outclassed Peru's German Valazco in his opening match and then went on to beat Tajikistan's Farkhod Rakhimov.

He went on to beat Morocco's Safouane by an ippon before also getting the better of American Travis Stevens.

It set up a match with home hope Masahiro Takamatsu for a place in the semi-finals but, with the home crowd behind him, the Japanese player held on for a narrow victory.

But Burton went into the repechage where he beat Holland's Guillaume Elmont and then Brazil's Flavio Canto to secure his bronze.

South Korea's Kim Jae-Bum beat Brazil's Leandro Guilheiro in the final to claim the gold medal.


Related stories
April 2010: Burton takes third European judo bronze
December 2009: Burton pulls off great victory in Tokyo