Event: 100 metres
DOB: 31/10/91
Age: 19
Was 2010 a good year?
Last year was my worst and best year because I had the worst injury possible – well, for me – I had a stress fracture in my lower back, and it was the best year because I ran a PB in the 100m and that PB took me to the top 10 in the all-time list, no 2 in Europe, and no 10 in the world as a junior. I did them all after my injury. For me, because I had an injury and I still ran that fast it kept me confident that if I wasn’t injured I could run even faster. I was quite happy with my 2010.
What’s on your to-do list for 2011?
Realistically the under-23 European Championships, and unrealistically the World Championships, but I’m taking it step by step. I’m just going to run fast, try and make the European under-23 team, and then if I run fast enough, try and do well at the World Championship trials. If things go well for me there anything can happen.
Are you hoping to get to the Olympics next year or are you not thinking that far ahead?
I haven’t thought that far, to be honest. I’m just going to take it year by year, race by race, and if I run fast enough then I’ll give it a try, but I don’t know. The Olympics isn’t out of my reach but I’d like to take it step by step instead of thinking ahead. I don’t want to hype myself up for something that might not happen.
You’re studying a sports development, coaching and fitness course – what’s your plan afterwards?
I definitely want to go to university – I don’t know where yet. Then once I do that I can become more of a full-time athlete than I am now because I’ll be at the place where I train – at the moment I’m not. I’m looking forward to that possibility.
Are you thinking of going to Loughborough University?
Yes, Loughborough’s one of my options, or Brunel. I’m trying to keep athletics and studies in the same sort of environment.
How do you balance athletics and studying?
It’s all about how you manage your time. If you’re an organised person you’ll be able to manage it. I’m organised when I want to be. When I don’t want to be everything kind of piles on top of each other!
How does it feel to be a SPAR star?
For me it’s a personal achievement – one of many – but this is one of the highlights because there are many athletes in this country that are of a similar ability that aren’t here. I think I’m one of the lucky ones that has been given the opportunity to further my potential and increase my confidence and credibility in athletics.
What’s the best thing about being a SPAR star?
The thing I’m most pleased is the fact I’ve been recognised as a potential world athlete and potential Olympian. That to me gives me more and more confidence that yes, I can run fast, yes, I can do certain things if I keep working hard.
As a SPAR star you’re going to the European Indoor Championships in Paris, how do you feel about that?
I only found out today, so I thought, ‘Wow, I’m going to Paris! I’m going to the European Indoor Championships!’ I’ve never been to a major championship. For me, going to the European Indoor Championships will be a great chance to watch the people that I will hopefully be running against now that I’m a senior. It’ll be great to watch them and to learn from watching them. The whole atmosphere will be a great experience for me – I’m quite happy!
Which athlete, retired or still competing, would you most like to emulate?
If I had one person to emulate it would be Linford Christie because what he did and how he did it still amazes me to this day. He had that determination that not many people have at that age, and I’ve got nothing but respect for the way he went about it and how he achieved it. If I had anyone I could emulate it would be him. In this current day and age I favour and follow Tyson Gay more than anyone else because of the amount of injuries he’s been through and how he’s bounced back and still managed to run great times.
What do you do when you relax?
On Fridays I get most of the day off. I like to just chill, eat – not rubbish food but less sensible food. If I want to treat myself I’ll have just a small pizza and chicken – probably KFC. I’ll also play on my PlayStation just to keep my mind off things.
Do you like listening to music?
Yes, I’m into music; I listen to music quite often especially when I’m in the warm-up area. I tend to listen to some drum n’ bass because that’s quite fast tempo, and I like to think fast before I run fast. I also listen to hip hop, R n’ B and some garage.