He was the sprinter once tipped by Usain Bolt as being Britain’s best chance of a sprint medal at the 2012 Olympics. But since Simeon Williamson was paid that compliment by the multiple world record-holder, he has had nothing but bad luck.

The 2009 UK champion underwent an operation in 2010 and missed the whole of that year. He made a few low-key appearances in 2011, running a best of 10.35 wind-assisted, but is now in form to reapproach his best ever shape and will compete indoors at the Aviva Indoor Grand Prix in Birmingham on February 18.

“I’m raring to go this year, I had knee surgery which caused me to miss the 2010 season and most of 2011 but I’m fit and healthy now and I can’t wait to get out there,” said Williamson, who boasts PBs of 6.53 for 60m and 10.03 for 100m, along with a 10.05 clocking into a strong -1.6m/s headwind.

“The indoor season is really important to my development this year,” added the 26-year-old, who will try to race as often as possible to play catch-up ahead of the Olympics. “It’s been a while since I’ve really been out on the racing circuit but now that it’s 2012 I want to be in top form and that’s only going to come from getting out there and racing.

“I want to succeed in 2012, I want to do well at the Olympics but I’m not really one for talking, I just want to get out there and show that I can do it with my performances on the track.”

Williamson has enjoyed the odd training stint with Bolt in previous years, but this past winter he trained alongside former 100m world record-holder Asafa Powell, who will also race at the Aviva Indoor Grand Prix.

“I’m looking forward to racing him,” said Williamson, a former winner of the 60m at the Aviva Indoor Grand Prix. “I’m pumped to get out on the track and hopefully I can pull out a great performance.”

Alongside Williamson, Powell and world 100m bronze medallist Kim Collins, Mark Lewis-Francis – another British sprinter with an unfortunate history of injuries – will be joining the 60m field in his home town of Birmingham.

He will be looking to banish his demons from last year’s event, where he pulled up injured. “I’m feeling positive about the year ahead,” said Lewis-Francis, who will also compete at the Aviva International in Glasgow on January 28.

“I had a good year in 2010, winning silver medals in the European Championships and the Commonwealth Games, but injury held me back in 2011. I hope 2012 will be another good year and free of injury.”

Lewis-Francis is hoping to book his spot on the British team for the World Indoor Championships in Istanbul, an event that hold special memories for him. Back in 2001 and aged just 18, Lewis-Francis won bronze and set a world junior record of 6.51 in the process.

Eleven years on, that performance remains his PB, although he did finish a respectable fourth at the World Indoors in 2003. Lewis-Francis last participated at a major indoor championships in 2005, but that experience leaves a slight sour taste. At the European Indoors in Madrid that year he finished second in the 60m with 6.59 but was later stripped of his medal after he tested positive for cannabis.

Now older and wiser – and with his injury woes of 2011 behind him – Lewis-Francis is relishing the prospect of contesting the 60m once again at a major indoor championships and says his race in Birmingham will be the ideal warm-up.

“Racing a world class field on my home track is going to be a real test but that’s exactly what I need before the World Indoors,” he said. “It’s great to have strong competition from both international athletes and the top British sprinters and it’s going to be a great race.”