Diamond League in London: Last stop in athletics before Paris Olympics
The Diamond League in London is the last stop in athletics before Paris Olympics
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00:00We're here at the Olympic Park for the London Diamond League today for a really exciting day of events.
00:05You can watch our Mixed Zone interviews with Aflex weekly on Shots TV on Freeview channel 276. Enjoy!
00:11It's an amazing stadium, there's an amazing crowd. I feel like I had a slightly lost opportunity today.
00:17I didn't quite perform as I wanted but you know, it's not Paris and I still have a lot of fun.
00:21My last attempt here ran into a really strong headwind when I could have just waited 30 seconds.
00:26So I'm kind of kicking myself a little bit. But you know, it's okay, I've learned a lot and yeah.
00:32I can take a lot of confidence going into Paris.
00:34Yeah, really exciting. It's really coming around fast, you know.
00:38Despite the result today, I know that I'm in good shape. I am ready to go.
00:42It's just, you know, smoothing out a few creases and then we'll be good.
00:45Perfect. And what, I mean, before this event and you've had British championships,
00:50what have you been doing in between then? Working on anything?
00:52Yeah, working on a few things but mainly just kind of trying to keep some consistency,
00:55training and just, yeah, nothing too crazy. Just keeping it all very calm.
01:00We don't want to change anything as opposed to the game.
01:02So it's just kind of doing the same thing week in, week out.
01:05And that British record, is that still in your sights?
01:08Yeah, yeah, absolutely. I think I'm in the right shape to do it.
01:12I've got the right mentality to do it. I've just got to get it on the right day and hope it will come.
01:16Your race here today?
01:17I'm happy. I mean, there's something so magical about being on the stadium and this crowd.
01:23It's truly so amazing and it's my second fastest time ever.
01:26If I wouldn't have run last week, it would have been a PB.
01:28So I'm happy and proud.
01:30Yeah, it's getting really close now. It's really exciting.
01:33I think you keep putting it a bit away because there are things that are first like this competition,
01:38but now it's coming, now it's time and I'm excited. I cannot wait for it to start.
01:43And how would you describe your shape, your form?
01:45You're running well, European record last week.
01:48Yeah, I mean, I think it's great.
01:50I'm happy. I'm happy for my mindset and I'm daring to go out faster than I usually would.
01:55And I'm feeling good, so I'm excited.
01:58And what about this rivalry that we're talking about?
02:00You and Sydney, that's going to be one of the races of the Games, isn't it?
02:04I mean, I hope so. It's amazing.
02:05I think the guys' 400 hurdles is also one of the races to watch out for.
02:09I really enjoyed Monaco, so I think it's great that we're uplifting 400 hurdles like this.
02:14And from a British point of view, Lina Nielsen, what can you tell us about her
02:18and how much you're looking forward to competing against her?
02:20I mean, she's a great competitor, just like Jesse Knight.
02:23And Lina also made it into the European finals.
02:26She's in great shape. She ran a PB over 400 metres.
02:28So I think one of the spots for the final is for pick-up for someone.
02:33So if she puts up her perfect race, who knows, maybe we can race together at the final.
02:36I think the race you ran today was the fourth fastest actually in the world.
02:40What would you have said if we had told you that about 10 years ago?
02:46I would have thought I was dreaming.
02:48Sometimes I think about it and I'm not sure how I'm doing it.
02:53When I watch it back, I'm like, is it really me doing this?
02:55It's something crazy, but it makes me enjoy it so much and never take it for granted.
03:00How are you feeling?
03:01I'm over the moon. I actually don't think it's sunken in yet, but I said to my coach today,
03:05I'm not leaving the stadium without a 49 next to my name.
03:08I can't believe I just smashed right through it.
03:10Right before the Olympics as well, perfect timing.
03:12We're coming into our fine-tuning period now.
03:16This whole season has just been a bit patient, I think.
03:20I said to my coach, I don't care what happens in May, June, July,
03:23as long as I'm ready in August and he's got me ready.
03:26What was going through your head as soon as you crossed that line?
03:29I was like, please, please, please, I've just seen all these times come up
03:31and I was like, please let it be in the 49s.
03:33I'm just so happy that I did it finally. It's been a long time coming.
03:37You seemed quite emotional as well, weren't you today?
03:39I was thinking, as the times were coming up, I was thinking,
03:41oh, please, I'll let it be 50 low and I'll just do 49.8.
03:46Oh my God, I can't quite believe it.
03:48And I mean, we're in the London Stadium as well,
03:50and you and Nina were last scored for, we're here in 2012, even more special.
03:55Honestly, I really mean it when I say this place is my favourite place in the world.
03:59Whenever anyone asks, I'm like, it's the London Stadium
04:02and there's a million reasons why. I'm just going to list them actually.
04:05This is the stadium where I was inspired to commit to this sport full time.
04:10In 2012, it was the stadium where I won my first medal.
04:13Seven years ago, it was the stadium where I broke 51 for the first time.
04:15That was five years ago. I'm going to get emotional.
04:18And now it's the stadium where I've broken 50 for the first time.
04:20Like, it just means so much. Wow.
04:23So you'll be back again?
04:24Yeah, definitely. We need more competition too. It's so special.
04:27And what's the plan from now until Palace then?
04:29Because it's really not long away.
04:30Yeah, we go tomorrow actually.
04:31Oh, do you?
04:31Yeah, we go on the Eurostar tomorrow and then there's not much work to do now actually.
04:35We're just fine tuning and I can expect to probably be another PB hopefully by the time I get to Paris.
04:40And last question for me, what does it mean to go not only to the Olympics,
04:43but to go with your sister as well?
04:45So much. I was really sad last time that I went without her.
04:49I really feel like it was something that we should experience together.
04:52And I was actually in quarantine last time for most of it.
04:54So I think we're going to go experience an Olympic Championships for the first time.
04:58Laura, well done. 800 metres today. A little bit different. How was that?
05:01Yeah, it was good. It was faster.
05:03Yeah, I just wanted to come down to a little bit of speed stuff ahead of the 1500 in Paris.
05:08Yeah, I actually really enjoyed that either today and ran one of the fastest times ever.
05:12So I'm quite happy with it.
05:13That was my next question. Was your aiming for a time at all?
05:15Yeah, I was thinking, I know I could probably run a PB, which is 156,
05:19but I knew if I ran 157 I'd be happy.
05:21So yeah, 157. Yeah, I just went out so hard.
05:26I just maybe gave myself a bit too much work to do.
05:28But no, I know I'm in a good spot and 157 is still a very good time.
05:31So yeah, I'm quite happy with that.
05:32I mean, a really strong field as well.
05:34All the British girls as well to go up against Keely and Gemma there.
05:38That's it. I mean, there's not too many missing there
05:40that I'm going to expect to be in the Olympic finals.
05:42So it's a very high calibre race.
05:44So you're dropping down the distance and doing nice.
05:46Yeah, it's a really big step.
05:48But no, I wanted to come here and race in front of a crowd.
05:50It's quite an opportunity. I feel really well in my preparation for Paris.
05:53How's training been for you recently, kind of tailoring?
05:55You got that 1500 a few weeks ago, 800 and now 1500 again.
05:59Yeah, no, it's been really good.
06:00Yeah, we're going to sharpen it up a little bit now
06:02and doing that race pace type stuff.
06:03So I've been working really hard at altitude since Paris a few weeks ago.
06:07So yeah, I've been training hard, looking for this, going back there.
06:10So yeah, it's a more overall preparation to the Olympics.
06:13And how are you feeling ahead of the Olympics?
06:15I mean, it's coming around pretty slow.
06:16It's coming around fast.
06:17Yeah, I think only having three years in Tokyo,
06:19it's coming around even faster than normal.
06:20But no, it's really exciting. It's really important.
06:22Would you have preferred an extra year at all?
06:24Or are you feeling quite comfortable with it?
06:26I think having gone from a five-year gap to a three-year gap,
06:28that's a big turnaround, especially since 2022 is so busy.
06:32But I mean, like, I think given the circumstances,
06:34two years ago, we'll take any competitions over no competitions.
06:37So it's just nice to be at an Olympic Games.
06:40You should never take it for granted.
06:41I'm fit, I'm healthy.
06:42And it's going to be great for staying in the summer.
06:45And what's the plan from now until Paris then?
06:47Are you going over any time soon?
06:49Just training. I'm going back to Altitude tomorrow and training hard.
06:51Okay.
06:52And then I'll go to Paris and finish in Paris.
06:55Amy, well done. 200 meters, a really good race.
06:57Are you happy?
06:58Thank you. I'm so happy.
06:59My coach just said to me, go out there and have fun.
07:01So to come here and run in the stadium where I was a kid
07:05and I was London 2012 obsessed.
07:07I had all the 50p's, I had everything.
07:09I had the big Jeff Sanders poster.
07:11So to be able to run in the stadium in an individual event
07:13and have the crowd scream for you, it was insane.
07:16If I had told you when in London 2012 that you would be here now,
07:20would you have done?
07:21Oh my God, I feel like I'd cry.
07:23I feel like I'd sob.
07:25It was honestly, it was amazing.
07:27It was such an incredible experience that I won't remember for a long time.
07:30And hopefully it's just the first one.
07:32So yeah, it was so much fun.
07:34And a really high field of athletes in there as well, British athletes as well.
07:37Insane. So to hold my own and be strong and hold my head
07:41and really chase them down and just keep working.
07:44So it was really fun.
07:46And not only have you had that race today,
07:48we've also had the relay, British record holder.
07:50Yeah, just a little British record.
07:52A little quad lead.
07:54How was that?
07:56It was a dream. It felt amazing.
07:58All the changeovers were so slick.
08:00The girls, I trust them wholeheartedly.
08:03Everyone is so experienced and it makes it such a stress-free experience.
08:07Relays sometimes get too complicated.
08:09They get too on top of each other.
08:11But I just trust the girls and I had no nerves going out there
08:13because I knew we were going to do something special.
08:15So to put it together, to get to hand off to my training partner.
08:18It was insane.
08:20Did you think that kind of helped you going into this?
08:22Did it give you a bit of boost?
08:24Yeah, definitely. I was so high on the adrenaline before.
08:26I was bouncing around in the warm-up track.
08:29So it was good to try and take that energy in.
08:31Especially coming into lane one, you just have to be
08:33uber positive about it and just go in with really good vibes.
08:37You seem to do quite well in lane one.
08:39I feel like I run well when my back is against the wall.
08:41So when I really need to cut it out,
08:43I feel like I really come into my own.
08:45Yeah, it would be nice to maybe start moving up the lanes.
08:48But it's good to show up and prove that I can run from any lane.
08:51I'm versatile and similar to the relay, I can run any leg.
08:54So it's always good to show up and be a well-rounded sprinter.
08:58Gemma, well done. You're in London.
09:00A PB, a good PB for you. You must be over the moon.
09:03Yeah, I've been waiting for a PB for a while
09:05and I'm glad it came at the right time.
09:07A really strong race as well.
09:09But Keeley had a plan there, going really fast pace.
09:11It was really strong and I wasn't thinking about anyone
09:13other than I just had my eyes on Keeley.
09:15But I knew it was going quick.
09:17So yeah, I'm really happy to walk away with a PB
09:19and come second in that race.
09:21What were you thinking in those last 100 metres?
09:23You were really close to Keeley at that point.
09:25I was just like, get to the finish, get to the finish
09:27and hang on, stay as close as I can to her.
09:29I really enjoyed that.
09:31And the crowd as well in London?
09:33Yeah, amazing. The crowd here, I can't miss London.
09:35So yeah, I'm really happy.
09:37And how are you feeling? I mean, that great time
09:39and now we've got Paris.
09:41Almost two weeks away, less than that.
09:43It's coming around pretty fast.
09:45Yeah, I'm definitely getting to the right place now
09:47and I've got some shopping up to do.
09:49But yeah, I'm going out to Paris tomorrow
09:51to the holding camp, so I'll get out there and shop now.
09:53And how has it been since the British Champs for you
09:55until now?
09:57It's been a bit bumpy.
09:59I had Covid and got a bit sick
10:01and had a week of training just now.
10:03But yeah, I've turned it around quite well.
10:05So yeah, I'm excited for this one.
10:07I mean, having Covid
10:09just so soon to Paris as well
10:11is not what you wanted, is it?
10:13No, I definitely knew I had enough time between then and Paris
10:15but it's about guys today that will have enough time
10:17and where are we going today?
10:19But I couldn't miss London, so...
10:21How was that today for you?
10:23It was good.
10:25The time was good, yeah.
10:27A bit disappointed with the result.
10:29I wanted to try and be a bit closer to the leading pack.
10:31It was good and bad in it.
10:33You looked like you were really throwing your all into it
10:35so that's a good thing.
10:37But what is it?
10:39How's that progressing on to Paris over the next few days?
10:41Yeah, I think I had to throw my all
10:43and I was last on like 10 metres.
10:45So yeah, I had to give it all.
10:47But yeah, there's some small fixes I can do.
10:49Nothing too major.
10:51But yeah, just like small fixes
10:53and then keep it consistent.
10:55I'm still not running like bad times.
10:57They're alright, so yeah.
10:59Did you have a moment to kind of take in the crowd here?
11:01Or do you have memories from watching London 2012?
11:03Yeah, definitely.
11:05Watching London 2012, I didn't expect it.
11:07There's a lot of people out there.
11:09I wasn't expecting it to be full.
11:11So yeah, it's kind of crazy.
11:13Did that spur you on?
11:15Did you feel like you had them behind you?
11:17Yeah, definitely.
11:19I don't want to lose in front of like 40,000 people, to be honest.
11:21How was it to go up against the likes of
11:23Noah Lyles, all of that
11:25high mass equilibrium athletes?
11:27What was that like?
11:29It was cool. It was good.
11:31Watching them on TV for so long.
11:33It's kind of good to be competing next to them.
11:35What's the plan from now then
11:37until the Olympics? I think it's right around the corner.
11:39I think, yeah, just like tagging my race a bit.
11:41Try and keep doing the same
11:43workouts. Stay healthy.
11:45Stay humble and hopefully improve from that.
11:47Have you been watching the new
11:49sprint documentary?
11:51I'm actually saving it. I've been travelling so much.
11:53I want to watch it when I'm at home
11:55with my TV.
11:57I've been saving it a little bit, yeah.
11:59Well done. I mean, a really, really
12:01good time from you today. How are you feeling about that?
12:03I'm feeling really good. I feel like that was something
12:05I knew I was capable of and I just wanted to
12:07put it out there and really put on a good
12:09performance that I'd be impacted with.
12:11Was that the aim? We had Erin Wallace obviously pacing it as well.
12:13Yeah. I feel like our adrenaline was
12:15just going. The first lap was so quick.
12:17I'm just glad I can run through
12:19400 that quick for the show that I can keep going.
12:21Yeah, I think it's great to have Gemma there
12:23as well pushing me all the way. It's just great for Britain
12:25middle distance right now. Yeah, I mean,
12:27British middle distance is absolutely crazy and you've got
12:29a really strong team going into the Olympics.
12:31To run that time so close to the Olympics,
12:33you must be feeling pretty proud.
12:35I know. We're like 12 days out now.
12:37It's coming so quick. For me now, it's just
12:39I'm going to get to Paris. I'm just going to wrap myself up
12:41and stay healthy and train hard
12:43and yeah, let's just get into that final and see what we can do.
12:45Well done today here
12:47at the London Diamond League. Thank you.
12:49How did you find that? Yeah, good.
12:51The crowd was incredible. I've never run in a stadium
12:53this big before. Euros
12:55was good and a big stadium
12:57but I can't
12:59see an empty seat.
13:01Yeah, really cool experience. I was
13:03ready for it to be a pretty
13:05hectic race, hectic start.
13:07There was a lot more
13:09fallers than probably anyone
13:11hoped for, obviously, but
13:13yeah, that's kind of the name of the game at the moment.
13:15Stay on my feet and if I can do that,
13:17that's one of the big steps out of the way
13:19and then just try and get through
13:21the races as smoothly as
13:23possible and run as smartly as I can
13:25and end up
13:27seventh, which, you know, it's not
13:29an incredible result but it's something I'm reasonably
13:31content with and
13:33yeah, good kind of progress
13:35going into the last few weeks of the season.
13:37Seeing that fall at the very beginning, what did you think there?
13:39Well, yeah, I mean I've still
13:41kind of got
13:43a few of those battle scars in my head
13:45from falling down in Glasgow
13:47and at Euros having a load
13:49of fallers in my heat so
13:51yeah, it's something that kind of
13:53happens every race at the moment and I think
13:55people just need to learn to be a little bit more
13:57careful at the start and watch
13:59around them and there's plenty of time for everyone
14:01to get on smoothly.
14:03Perfect. And last question from me,
14:05have you had time to reflect on the British Champs
14:07recently? I mean, they're still a really
14:09good bunch of players. Yeah, yeah, I'm reasonably
14:11happy with that.
14:13I mean, obviously, shame to miss the team,
14:15it would be great to be going to the Olympics but
14:17yeah, I mean,
14:19you've got to be realistic and I know
14:21going into this year, getting a medal at that
14:23or even running 349
14:25and 350 in the mile is something that
14:27I probably never thought I would do
14:29so yeah,
14:31reasonably content overall with
14:33coming third. You always want more, it would be
14:35nice to have been in Paris but that's the way it goes
14:37and yeah, just got to
14:39keep plugging away and one step
14:41at a time, hopefully make that Olympic team
14:43one day. What's it like to compete
14:45in here? Listen, I was just saying over there,
14:47so 2012, obviously I was at home watching it
14:492016, I think
14:51it was, Kenny Harrison wrote a world record
14:53I think it was when she didn't make the Olympic team
14:55I was in the audience when that happened
14:57so I've worked here as part of hospitality for West Ham
14:59so like, to actually now come here
15:01and compete, I've been dreaming about it
15:03what a beautiful stadium, what a lovely fast track
15:05so it was almost like, yesterday I was like a kid
15:07in a candy store, I was meant to be warming up
15:09and I'm just grinning, teeth skipping around like
15:11yo, this is great, so no, to actually
15:13get out there, my family's in the crowd,
15:15my friends are in the crowd, yeah, really special
15:17and to get the win as well, like, it's quality
15:19yeah, look, that's what, like, you know me
15:21I love having a dust up with the boys, so we had
15:23RP in there, we had CJ in there, we had OJ in there
15:25like, we've got a lot of the best
15:27of Britain in this race, obviously you've got
15:29Louis, Jeremiah and Zarno in the A race
15:31so yeah, to be able to get
15:33the win on that field, because I feel like anyone
15:35could have got the W on the day, so
15:37no, it's nice definitely to get the win for sure
15:39What do you think about British sprinting at the minute, obviously
15:41you know, Jeremiah, Louis coming through as well
15:43Listen, British sprinting is crazy
15:45because, since last year
15:47so 2023 and now
15:49to make a British team, you've got to go
15:51sub 10, you know what I mean, and that's mad
15:53because we don't really, and I think that's where
15:55the politics of, like, selection policies
15:57and stuff, I think they need to recognise
15:59certain events have moved on
16:01and just simplify it, you know what I mean, but
16:03it is what it is, isn't it, we all know what it is
16:05before we start and we get with it, but no
16:07it's great, and I think for me, seeing
16:09Louis come through, seeing Jeremiah come through
16:11again, I don't need the extra motivation, but
16:13it's just like, alright, cool, especially these young
16:15boys as well, it's a young man's game as they say
16:17So what's the plan for the rest of the year now, and obviously
16:19moving into next year, have you got any ideas?
16:21When it's all said and done this year
16:23I'm trying to be number one Brit, do you know what I mean
16:25it's not going to be in Paris, but it's cool
16:27I mean, so I've got some races lined up
16:29and just have fun, do you know what I mean, so I'm trying to be
16:31number one at the end of the season, but look
16:33just enjoy it, I know when I enjoy my running
16:35things like today happen, I wish I had a second round
16:37because, you know what I mean, we could have taken at least
16:39a tenth off in the second round, but yeah
16:41And finally for me, like, the last few years
16:43how mental has it been, and like
16:45the response to people, like general people
16:47what's that been like as well?
16:49Unbelievable, you know, like I said, I think I've been very blessed
16:51in that the 99% of the
16:53response I get from the public has been positive
16:55I was talking to one of my fans, lovely lady
16:57also an accountant, shout out to Shelly
16:59if she sees this, and
17:01she was just like, she loves the fact that I'm actually responding
17:03I'm a normal person, I'm a 9-5er
17:05like you, you know what I mean, I'm a civilian, you know what I say
17:07so, it's been amazing, and I love engaging
17:09with it, because I very much feel like
17:11I'm flying the flag for those people
17:13I've loved it, like, the support has been amazing
17:15I still can't quite get my head around it, yesterday I was
17:17picking up my accreditation and people got pictures of me pictured
17:19out, and they're asking me to sign it, I'm like
17:21yo, this is crazy, but no, I'm
17:23thankful for it all
17:25Sam, 44.7, I mean, that is
17:27I mean, how do you even put that into words?
17:29Remarkable, unbelievable
17:31yeah, unfathomable
17:33that is something I've dreamt about for a while
17:35I knew a big run was in the cards
17:37after that 45.99
17:39but not that big
17:41so yeah, unbelievable
17:43I mean, you're closing in quite quickly with that time on the
17:45top 10 for the UK all-time list of the 400m
17:47it's that good, I mean
17:49in front of a crowd like that as well
17:51how do you put that into perspective?
17:53It's a dream come true, I mean
17:55even competing in those tracks is a dream come true for me
17:57I had loads of goals at the start of this year, most of them were wiped out
17:59because of injury, but this London Diamond League
18:01was all definitely on it, and what I wanted to do
18:03I did it last year for the 8 national
18:05didn't go to plan, got tripped for 200m
18:07so, to finally achieve one of my goals
18:09that's how I started from my injury
18:11on this track I knew I wasn't going to take it for granted
18:13come out here and do my best
18:15and yeah, that's what happens
18:17and that relationship between the 4 and the 8, what is that for you?
18:19I mean, certainly the 4 does seem to be
18:21where you're best at now after that, or?
18:23yeah, I guess so
18:25it's an event pairing that's not really run
18:27that commonly, and I'm trying to change that
18:29sort of, I said on my Instagram a couple of days ago
18:31that a lot of people say, oh you've got to pick an 8
18:33I've got a 4, you've got to pick a 4
18:35and I said, well why do I have to pick one, I can't only pick both
18:37and I think I'm proving
18:39with that training style of 8-4
18:41I have strengths that 4 guys don't have
18:434-2 guys don't have, like the last 100m kick
18:45that's my 800m strength
18:47especially with the injury at the end, does that actually help
18:49when you're going into that final 100m, the laps
18:51it's kind of kicking in as well, it gets through that
18:53yeah, so, I think
18:55I know we're going to be with it for 2, almost a day
18:57which is what I was trying to do
18:59but that 800m strength, that last 100m
19:01I feel like I'm more
19:03aware of what it feels like, running through laps
19:05and battling with people
19:07normally in 800m, so
19:09focusing on my form is crucial
19:11and I think that, yeah, that showed today
19:13And not just winning it, but that title, what do you think that can do
19:15for you now, moving forward
19:17because that gets you into another stage
19:19doesn't it? Yeah, I think
19:21yeah, I don't even know, I haven't been
19:23here before, so I've got to say
19:25I feel like I'm going to get more races, that's for sure
19:27which will be nice
19:29make my agent job a bit easier over that time
19:31so, I'm excited to see what comes
19:33to be honest. And what do you think you can do over the distance
19:35so you know, Matt and now Charlie
19:37leading the way, obviously they'll be doing
19:39the individual at the Olympics, I mean, what are your
19:41thoughts on that? Well, yeah
19:43I mean, I always like to think of these guys
19:45as competitors now
19:47not challenges, I mean, I looked up to Matt
19:49over the 400m for ages
19:51and seeing what he's been doing in sport, and Charlie as well
19:53it inspires me, but now especially with
19:55that, I feel like
19:57I'm no longer just looking up to him, I want to be beating
19:59him and stuff like that, and they're great guys
20:01and they don't expect me to be saying the same thing
20:03so, yeah, hopefully kick on from here
20:05and start putting a bit
20:07under threat in the future maybe
20:09Georgie, you keep going up these
20:11all-time lists, I think you're now 4th in the British
20:138km all-time list, a crazy
20:15race there, British 1, 2, 3, how do you put that
20:17into perspective? Yeah, really happy
20:19like, it's so cool to be in front of a London
20:21crowd, I'm a Londoner, so
20:23really good energy, and I knew it was going to be
20:25a really quick track, Erin
20:27my team mate was taking up the pace, so
20:29I knew she was going to go on for as a big boat, so
20:31yeah, just happy that I could
20:33execute a good 800. Is this the first time that
20:35you've raced in this stadium before? Yeah, first
20:37time in this stadium, I came as a spectator
20:39in 2012. So
20:41being a spectator in 2012 to
20:43now, how do you even put that into words?
20:45I know, it's crazy
20:47but I guess it's nice to know that like
20:49you can think something isn't going to happen
20:51and it's nice, you know, it sucks
20:53but even if it's a bit, I wouldn't imagine
20:55it's nice. And your journey obviously is
20:57quite well publicised now, but how much
20:59feedback have you had from people
21:01you know, now your story's out in the
21:03national press as well, how much feedback
21:05have you got from that? Everyone's said
21:07the fact that it's my semesters, like there's lots of
21:09people being really supportive, which is good, but
21:11there's also lots of nice messages, which is
21:13people saying, you've got me back into
21:15running, or boxing, or you've got my
21:17girls and my kids into running, like
21:19all that kind of thing, so those are really nice.
21:21And the atmosphere today, 60,000 people,
21:23did you ever imagine when you were doing those
21:25runs in Cove and trying to get back into
21:27the sports in a way that, you know, you've been
21:29obviously 60,000 to Olympics
21:31coming up, I mean it's crazy.
21:33It is crazy, and no, this is the biggest
21:35day in my life competing again, like
21:37it's just so cool to see athletics selling out like
21:39this, and I hope that the Olympics
21:41gives a massive boost to everything that's happening
21:43this spring on Netflix, like I'm just hoping more people
21:45get into athletics as much as before.
21:47British middle distance running now, obviously Keeley
21:49broke her own national record there.
21:51I mean, you girls are smashing
21:53it all over the park at the minute, what do you make
21:55of that generally? I mean, it's amazing
21:57to be part of this era, there's so much depth
21:59in British middle distance running, like
22:01on my team, like teammates,
22:03it's so amazing
22:05to be part of the team,
22:07but also overall in British
22:09athletics, like all pushing each other forward.
22:11And I've just got to ask, is it the M11
22:13track club? Yeah, we've got one on Instagram.
22:15What do you think the influence of both
22:17Trevor and Jenny have done for you?
22:19How can you put that into words?
22:21It's everything, like, it takes so much
22:23more than just doing training sessions to come
22:25out and be successful, it's all about having that
22:27support, and they offer that.
22:29A lot of great practices back to back,
22:31I stayed a one
22:33week extra in the US, because I
22:35just felt that I wasn't going to be able to get as much training in
22:37as I wanted, and
22:39some personal things also came up, but
22:41today, I feel like
22:43I got to show some of that, I didn't get to show nearly as much,
22:45I've been having a lot better block starts
22:47than I feel like I showed today, but the patience
22:49was there, and I feel like the speed was there.
22:51So, the pieces are definitely
22:53coming together, and even the wind was against me today,
22:55so, I'm like, you know, if we're running
22:57this fast, we're in the negative winds, you know,
22:59I'm ready for anything. Let's talk about Paris,
23:01how excited are you then, to getting it all together
23:03for the Olympic Games? I'm so excited,
23:05I'm ready to have rounds going back to back,
23:07you know, I ran out there and I felt like it was just one round,
23:09like, I was like, alright, let's get to the next one,
23:11you know, where's the next two races?
23:13And in the Olympic Games,
23:15obviously coming through heats, coming through semifinals,
23:17and then that lane in the final, it's different,
23:19isn't it? Ah, yeah, it's
23:21definitely different, it's a different mindset, it's a different
23:23motivation, some people like to conserve
23:25energy, some people
23:27like to play it by ear, I'm a guy who likes to, you know,
23:29get the rhythm in the first round,
23:31kill it in the semis, and then blow everybody's
23:33doors off in the final.
23:35People are talking about you potentially making Olympic
23:37history with the number of medals you could win,
23:39what are you going there to do?
23:41I'm going there to take as many as I can.
23:43If the opportunity's there, I'm going to take it.
23:45And let's talk about some of the British sprinters, obviously
23:47Louis Hinschliff is the man that we were talking
23:49about in this country, what would you say about him
23:51coached by Carl Lewis? I'd say that
23:53him grabbing that NCAA title was
23:55very impressive, and you know,
23:57we'll see what he does.