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National shot put record holder, O'Dayne Richards, is confident ahead of this year's Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Richards, who won the country's first World Championships medal in the event in Beijing last year, believes he is as world class as any competitor he might line up against in Brazil.

Though the 27-year-old fell short of his 22-metre goal last year, he did throw a national record and personal best of 21.69m.

That distance also gifted him gold at the Pan Am Games in Toronto, Canada.

"I've always had that killer instinct to say that a name doesn't necessarily scare me. I am not easily shaken by a name but what is happening is that they (competitors) now know that I can throw well and I can produce big throws so I believe a little bit more respect is now shown so I am prepared for it," Richards said.

"My first track meet was actually Brazil, Sao Paolo where I made the junior Pan Am team and I am excited to go back to Brazil," he said of his Olympic prospects.

"Part of being an athlete is being able to travel the world, and to see Brazil again is a wonderful experience. I hope to do well there," he told STAR Sports in a recent interview.

Despite Jamaica being a sprint loving country, Richards believes big distances are ahead for the shot put and throws in general.

"The talent is extremely high now. If you look at the junior levels you will see a number of throwers and some young guys who are breaking out at the senior levels. Even this year Jamaica will have maybe three or four Jamaicans going up in the men's shot put. I expect great things coming in the next five years for Jamaica throwers," he said.