to be opened yet.'' But it's Brian Wellman who's on the shelf after the two Bermudians competed in the World Indoor Track and Field Championships on the weekend.

While thrilled with his fourth-place performance in the 200-metres final on Saturday in Paris, Douglas' thoughts were with his friend and countryman, who had to bow out of the triple jump competition when a recurring bunion flared up during qualifying.

Wellman, the defending world indoor champion, planted awkwardly on his approach during his second jump on Friday, and, after much deliberation, decided to withdraw.

"I'm in his corner,'' said Douglas from his home in Holland last night. "I would've done exactly the same thing.'' The two are room-mates at international meets and Douglas said the two Bermudians spent much of Saturday night ruminating over Wellman's decision.

Wellman was debating whether or not he should have continued; Douglas wouldn't hear of it.

"I told him, `Your health is more important. You're a professional athlete now; this is what you do for a living'.'' Wellman, whose gold medal jump of 17.72 metres two years ago stands as the fourth best indoor jump of all time, fouled his first jump on Friday and settled for 15.62 metres on his injury-wrecked second. That left him second-last among the 26 competitors, the first time since 1990 he had failed to make the final.

Wellman was travelling from Paris to his training base in Arkansas yesterday and couldn't be reached.

Like a Formula One race car driver, Douglas figures athletes of his and Wellman's level shouldn't mess around when something goes awry with a sensitive piece of machinery. That's why, at the tender age of 34, Douglas pays critical attention to every meal, every hour of sleep and every step he takes.

"To maintain an elite status for eight years is not easy,'' he said. "It's a huge responsibility.'' And it's paying dividends. Ever since a bio-mechanical change in his running style five years ago, Douglas' times have got faster. He says he's in the best shape of his life and, with a new training partner (Olympic finalist Patrick Stephens of Belgium), figures he's got lots of life left in his legs.

In fact, he ran a personal best 20.77 seconds in the heats on Friday morning.

"I'm like fine wine. I keep maturing,'' he laughed. "1962 was a good year.

I'm not ready to be opened yet.'' In the final, Douglas ran 21.22 and was pipped for the bronze medal by Nigeria's Francis Obikwelu, who clocked 21.10.

Douglas acknowledged that he knew his chances were slim when he drew lane two for the final.

"Anyone in lanes one to three knew the race was between lanes four to six,'' said Douglas, referring to the momentum-breaking turns of the Paris track.

"It's hard to handle the speed generated in curves like that,'' he said. "I have to shift gears twice in one race.'' But as much he would have liked third spot -- and the $10,00 bonus being offered for the first time -- Douglas was just as happy to build on his reputation as a big-time competitor.

"I feel so much more confident at major championships. I thrive on (the pressure). That's where you earn the respect of your peers.'' Douglas had competed in four earlier indoor races but said they were merely warm-ups for the world championships.

"For the indoor season, this was it. Everything else was just training runs.

I was geared for it (and) I really dropped a bomb in Paris. It was the right place and right time for me.'' "It was good to put on my country's uniform and represent my people. I had 60,000 Bermudians on my back and it's a good feeling.''