Long jumper Tyrone Smith hopes to break the 8.35 metre mark next year after what he deemed a disappointing 2012 track and field season.For most athletes, competing in the Olympics would be the highlight of any season, but Smith says he’s set the bar much higher.Facing a crushing elimination in the qualifying round in London, Smith reached back and unleashed his best jump of the season, 7.97 metres, to book his place in his first-ever Olympic final.Although the Bermudian just missed out on a medal with his last jump that would have seen him reach the podium had it not been for a foot fault, he has vowed to return to the track with a vengeance.“I didn’t have a good season in my eyes, my ultimate goal was to get a medal at the Olympics and that didn’t happen so I wasn’t too pleased with that,” Smith said.“Also, my 2012 season was hampered with injuries and that resulted in me not being able to hit my goal of eight metres this year. The year before I was doing it quite frequently so to not do it was a bit disappointing.“The season was a mixed bag but making the final of the Olympics helped take the bitter taste away but I wanted to get a new Bermuda record and that’s what we are working for in 2013.“This upcoming year I will look to break 8.35 metres and win some competitions, that is may main aspirations and my camp is based around this.“The World Championships will be a focus after I just missed out on a medal last time and also defending my CAC championship.”While he hasn’t officially reached the 8.35 metre plateau in his career, he believes that with proper preparation and a few minor tweaks to his training regimen, he can alleviate injuries and have a successful 2013.“Not getting the required result has motivated me, especially to getting healthy in terms of my rehabilitation and eating that can help me staying fit. If I can slightly alter a few things in my regimen, I can better my jumps exponentially and put myself in a better position to win more medals.“It’s the little things that are weak, not bench pressing a lot of weight as I do enough of that, and if I can sort them out now it can help me on the runway for years to come.”The 28-year-old’s stock has certainly risen since the London Games.His popularity has also grown, both home and abroad, following his impromptu jig during the Olympic opening ceremony that caused a storm on Twitter, on which thousands commented.Although he plies his trade out of Houston, Texas, Smith called competing at the Bermuda National Championships earlier this year as the highlight of his track campaign along with representing his beloved homeland at the summer spectacle.Among his list of accomplishments in 2012 were a fourth place at the adidas Grand Prix in New York as well as a tenth place finish at the World Indoor Championships in Istanbul, Turkey.He is also the current Bermuda Male Athlete of the Year.“There were are a lot of things in season that were rewarding including coming home to compete in the nationals and helping Bermuda showcase our talent and bring overseas athletes here was great.”