THE essence of sport is not in the victory but in the struggle.

Thirteen words with which Hampshire Olympian Roger Black certainly wouldn't disagree.

"It's not the moment you achieve victory which means so much, it's the journey you have had in getting there - the highs and the lows leading up to that moment," the former World Championship gold medallist remarked.

"That whole process is made so much sweeter if you have enjoyed it all."

Avid Saints fan Black, the former Team Solent athlete, was speaking at the second Solent SportAid lunch at Hampshire cricket's Rose Bowl.

SportAid is a registered charity dedicated to financially helping promising youngsters - male and female - in a wide variety of sports.

Primarily the sports are Olympic events - such as athletics, basketball, cycling, boxing, rowing - but SportAid do help popular sports like football and cricket.

"The whole point of sport is to enjoy it, though it took me a long time to realise that," Black continued. "Sport is so important to this nation - everyone is so much happier when people from this country are doing well."

In his younger days Black received financial assistance from SportAid which he has never forgotten.

"I was 18 when I had a grant from SportAid and it meant the world to me," he recalled. "I'd messed up my maths A level and had a year off.

"Someone suggested I go down to Southampton Athletics Club and talk to people like Todd Bennett and Kriss Akabusi.

"Two months later I was running in the indoor championships for Great Britain - don't you hate people like that!"

Black admits a life in top class sport has taught him valuable lessons he is keen to pass on. "In my heart I never thought I would make it as a pro, that I would compete in the Olympics and be part of one of the great 4 x 400m running teams," he said.

"I know I have been very, very lucky. People like myself and Lawrie McMenemy (SportAid patron) are very lucky to have made a career out of sport. By being involved with sport I have learnt so much.

"Sport helps you get over the bad times.

"Early on in my career life was easy, life was fantastic, everything was easy.

"People talked about me going on to to break records - but instead I broke a bone in my foot. The bad times in sport are bad, but sport helps you overcome them.

"I learnt that you have to set yourself goals in life. And I learnt that, if you want to achieve them you must train with people who want the same as you.

"Training with someone like Kriss Akabussi I learnt about synergy - that one and one doesn't necessarily equal two.

"Every goal I set, he set, every dream I had, he had - his were just a bit more vivid! It was not a co-incidence we both achieved a lot. And if I hadn't met Kriss I know I wouldn't have achieved as much as I did - he wouldn't have achieved anything!

"I also learnt that it doesn't matter how much training you do, how much preparation you put in, all that matters is the ability to perform under pressure.

"I remember Bobby Stokes doing exactly that at Wembley in 1976 - one of the best days of my life. In sport you have to perform under pressure."

The most high-pressure moment for Black was not the World Championship relay win over a decade ago, it was the Olympic Games seven years ago.

"Imagine walking out for the 400m Olympic final as I did in 1996. You are preparing for the race you have always dreamed of," he remembered. "Alongside you are several other athletes all with the same goals, the same dreams, the same aspirations.

"If you get the race right, life is great. If you don't, not so great.

"There's 85,000 people in the stadium and 82,000 are cheering for Michael Johnson.

"You try not to think about the millions of people who have stayed up all night back home willing you to win, you try not to think about the billions of people around the world who are watching.

"And it becomes even harder when some chap comes out and says would we mind waiting for a few minutes because they have to show some commercials ...

"That's pressure!"