Anthony Foster, Star Writer

Britain's Germaine Mason reacts after an attempt in the men's high jump final during the athletics competitions in the National Stadium at the Beijing 2008 Olympics yesterday. - ap

beijing, china

Great Britain's Olympic high jump silver medallist Germaine Mason, has credited training received in Jamaica as a key component to his success at the games of the 29th Olympiad, but has no regrets about leaving the nation behind.

Mason, who switched allegiance from Jamaica to Great Britain in 2005, yesterday soared to a silver medal position in the men's high jump inside the Bird's Nest 91,000-capacity stadium. Mason finished second behind Russian Andrey Silnov, who cleared 2.36 metres without a miss to secure the gold medal, then failed three times at 2.42.

Second major accomplishment

The medal was the second major accomplishment, for Mason, since trading in Jamaica's black green and gold for Britain's red white and blue, having won the European Cup silver medal in 2006.

The athlete credited his success to training in Jamaica, a base he returned to in 2007, to work with coach Stephen Francis at MVP track Club, following a reported fallout with the camp a few years ago.

"Returning to Jamaica has helped me a lot, it keeps me relaxed and comfortable," said Mason, who holds all three of Jamaica's national high jump records - outdoor (2.34 metres), indoor (2.30m) and junior (2.27m).

Despite that fact, however, Mason, a the four-time Jamaican champion, who won silver and bronze medals at the World Junior Championships in 2000 and 2002 respectively, made it clear that he has no regrets about the choice to abandon competing for Jamaica.

No regrets

" I have no regrets leaving Jamaica to compete for Great Britain," Mason said.

"Jamaica did a lot for me, so I am not bitter or anything, but Great Britain is my home now,"said the Jamaican 2003 Pan-American Games champion.

Speaking about his performance, Mason, who was Jamaica's only high jump medallist at the World Indoor Championships in Budapest, Hungary in 2004, said:

"I am very happy, words cannot explain it right now, I feel like Usain Bolt when he won his gold medal,"

According to Mason the occasion was even more significant based on the fact that he had missed the 2004 Olympic games in Athens, Greece.

"It's very important, because 2004 I missed the Olympics because of knee surgery, so I have been waiting for this day for four years now," he added. Mason spoke about "a couple up and down seasons" during the journey, but added: "I got it right in the Olympics, which is what matters the most"

"I could not ask for more, equalling my PB and I won a silver medal...I could not ask for more," he said. The athlete was also quick to hail the contribution made by coach Francis.