LaShawn Merritt has admitted that he is excited to be returning to Beijing for the World Athletics Championships.

The American claimed gold at the Olympics on his last visit to the Bird's Nest Stadium in 2008, and he believes that he will approach the meet with a slightly different mind-set to his rivals as he looks to defend his 400m title.

"I probably feel different than other people who are going there feel," he told USA Today. "I've been from the warm-up area to the track to looking up in the stands — it won't be anything foreign for me, it'll be all great memories.

"When I'm looking up and about to take off, I feel something in the back of my head will just click and say, 'Man, you've been here before. You dominated. You're years older, a couple years wiser and a lot stronger. Do it again.'"

Five athletes have recorded quicker times than Merritt this year.