AYDIN, Türkiye 

One of Britain's most iconic athletes highlighted the importance of trying new things, saying it is part of the learning process and mistakes should be taken in stride.

"Young people are afraid of making mistakes or feeling like they're going to look a fool when they try something new. But when you try something new, you've got to realize you are learning. And when you're learning, you take your time. Nothing comes instantly," Colin Jackson, a former Olympic silver medalist and two-time World Champion hurdler, told Anadolu.

Jackson was in Türkiye to take part in the "Wellness Weekend with Olympic Medalist Athletes" event in the Aegean resort town of Didim.

He expressed the importance of well-being.

"To me, well-being is really important, and especially when people are on vacation. You know, sometimes you forget about your well-being when you're on vacation. But if we can kind of make something across the board that is wholesome but fun, educational, with some of the best athletes of all time, it makes a big difference. I think it's a good difference. And I think in itself, it makes it very attractive," he said.

Jackson, who bagged the silver medal in the men's 110 meters hurdles at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, emphasized setting new challenges and the importance of testing one's limits.

"I think one of the most important things when you try to inspire young people is to make it happen naturally, not be a forced thing. So first of all, when people watch the videos of us training, they'll see people having a great time. They're smiling. They're having a good time. We explain how challenges work, how you can just push yourself to get the maximum out of yourself. It may take you one day. It may take you four days. But you will push yourself to your extreme," he said.

Jackson said commitment is the key to success.

"There are a few things that will make you stay at the top of your game. Obviously, you've got to be committed to it. This is important to you. The goal setting that you do has got to be right and realistic for that particular moment in time, which also means your aspirations stay the same.

"So as a 19-year-old, I couldn't be a world champion, but I had aspirations of being a world champion. So I worked hard to become that. So as long as you have those kind of qualities in you and having good people around you -- and they keep telling you that, just reminding you about what you can do -- then I think you've got a chance of making it to the top," he added.

He stressed that handling problems is also critical on the way to the top.

"I think you will always get problems when you're on your way up. People don't always like you. And they don't always like you for different reasons. You know, I changed my sport courtesy of racism. And that was a decision I made as a 15-year-old. And I didn't look back once I did that. So for me, it was the right decision," he said.