'I actually got to run' - Azu grateful to get out of blocks

Jeremiah Azu is the only Welshman to have run 100 metres in under 10 seconds

Great Britain's Jeremiah Azu says it was "nice to get back in the blocks" after his nightmare Olympic debut.

The Cardiff sprinter was disqualified from his 100m heat for a false start, and despite his protests, was removed from the race.

Azu claimed to have heard a sound in the crowd, but his appeal was rejected.

The 23-year-old then had five days to wait for redemption and that came in the men's 4x100m relay heats on Thursday morning.

Azu ran the opening leg as the British quartet finished third to qualify automatically for Friday's final (18:47 BST).

"It was nice to get out of the blocks and actually run at the champs," Azu told BBC Sport Wales.

"I actually got to run today which was good. I’m happy."

'Thinking about the guys'

But Azu firmly believes the officials made a mistake in not allowing him to run under protest.

"I reacted to a sound and I didn’t get the chance to run again," he said.

"They actually started to threaten me, so I was like ‘I’m not going to get in trouble for the team’.

"I was told if I don’t leave, my accreditation would be taken and I knew I had the relay so I was thinking about the guys. Any other circumstance I would have stayed there until they let me run.

"I took myself off the track, put the appeal in, did it the way they wanted, but unfortunately it got declined.

"It’s actually taken me seven years to get to this moment and for it to be taken away like that is painful, but that’s athletics, there’s rules there and according to the rules I went too fast, regardless of what I heard."

Azu credits his family for getting him through last Saturday's emotional ordeal.

He took himself out of the athletes' village and spent two days with them "to reset" after his disqualification.

"It’s great to have them here. I don’t think I’d be stood in this position if they weren’t," Azu said.

"I’ve been blessed with amazing family and they got me through it."

Azu also saluted the British fans at the Stade de France.

"There are so many, you look around and you see so many British flags, it feels like I’m at home," he added.

"Walking out to the blocks, all the fans are screaming, once they see the GB colours everyone comes to life, it was great.

"I would have loved to have experienced it individually, I think I definitely would have run a PB (personal best) and pushed for that final.

"I always want to see how good I really am and race against the best."

Fuel to the fire

At just 23, Azu recognises he still has a long athletics career ahead of him.

"It was a shame what happened, it's track and field, we learn and we move on," he added.

"I'm going to use that pain to fuel me for the rest of my career.

"I’ve got the world championships next year and I’m going to remember that every day.

"I don’t think it’s going to leave me and I’m going to make sure there is no stone unturned the next time I’m stepping into a championship environment."

In the short term Azu's aim is to medal in the relay.

"We’re going to come back tomorrow night, we’re going to get on that podium, put the great back in Great Britain and hopefully make the Brits back home proud," he said.