There is a strong sense of unfinished business for Kilty because of the agony he suffered when he was denied a 4x100m silver medal at the 2020 Olympic Games after team-mate CJ Ujah failed a doping test.
“I don’t have an Olympic medal any more; it’s gone,” Kilty said, having described himself as “devastated” at the time.
“My son is now seven and he understands what’s happened. I had to explain to him that I had to hand the medal back.
“The motivation is certainly to win another Olympic medal and close the curtain on a great career.
“The whole of the North East has backed me massively. We’ve never really had any sprinters from there.
“I’ve always based myself there. The support has been tremendous and I’m ever so thankful.”
It is a measure of how much Kilty’s daring decision has paid off that he is also considering competing beyond 2024, although his commitment to coaching and media duties means that could prove another tough call.
“It’s a strange one because I’m now starting to run really, really fast,” said Kilty, who has fought back from Achilles tendon and shoulder surgeries during his career.
“There might be the temptation, if I have a really big year, to do one more year,” he said.
“After the Olympics, I’ll have an honest reflection and see where I want to go with my life. I’m just trying to live in the moment and really enjoy every moment.”