December 16, 2007 12:00am

DARREN Clark, who set the Australian 400m record John Steffensen has been chasing, broke his silence yesterday and called for Athletics Australia to back their controversial young Commonwealth champion and help him get to the Olympics.

But Clark also has some advice for Steffensen, whose allegedly hostile berating of 1984 Olympic heptathlon champion Glynis Nunn-Cearns is now the subject of an Athletics Australia-instigated investigation.

"My message to AA is 'back him', and to Steffensen my message is 'just chill out, John, stressing out is not going to help you','' Clark told The Sunday Telegraph.

"And yelling and shouting at officials is definitely not going to help you - especially Olympic gold medallists. You've got to respect those people, regardless. Bide your time, go to Europe in late May or early June, show you're in form, show you're worthy of selection; don't talk it, walk it.''