The former European and Commonwealth gold medallist, who also won a silver medal at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul but always failed to win the biggest prize on the biggest stage, believes that the pressure of the Games could lead to major names failing to pick up the medals they are expected to take home next year.

"The Olympic Games is quite a neutraliser, and the top people in the world can fail and not produce performances," he told insidethegames here. 

"One of the biggest competitions I am looking forward to is at the Aquatics Centre in the pool.

"It will be interesting to see how Ian Thorpe on his return can take on the likes of Michael Phelps.

"That is a clash of true sporting icons."

Jackson, the 1993 and 1999 world champion, was speaking at St Pancras Internationa, where Eurostar welcomed hundreds of fans from Europe to mark the One Year to Go point in the build up to next year's Olympic Games.

Thousands of Olympic fans across the UK and Europe entered competitions to be a part of Eurostar's celebrations, and the 200 successful entrants travelled to London to be a part of today's event.

Jackson and Sebastian Coe, the chairman of London 2012, along with Sport and Olympics Minister Hugh Robertson, had their footprints cast in concrete, providing a legacy to the Olympics and Paralympics throughout St. Pancras.


Jackson also said that he was expecting Jessica Ennis, the world and European heptathlon champion, and world triple jump champion Philips Idowu to lead Team GB's medal charge in 2012.

He also told insidethegames that he wished he could have been able to take part in the London Olympics and to enjoy the support of the home crowd.

"There is always that little bit of upset because it's your home nation and you'd love your friends and family to see you perform," he said.

"Back in Singapore when we won the right to host the Games [in 2005] we were sitting around a table trying to work out how old we'd be in London.

"I'm not sure I could put myself through the hard work and torment to get to the top level.

"Once you've done it you can look back and reflect on it as a great time and I'm enjoying being able to watch the Games."

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