WRITTEN FOR THE LONDON 2017 WEBSITE ON BEHALF OF BRITISH ATHLETICS
The lure of a forthcoming world championship on home territory undoubtedly creates priceless motivation for promising young athletes, as London 2017 found when it spoke to some of Britain’s finest rising stars of athletics.
With the London 2017 IAAF World Athletics Championships less than three years away, there has been a noticeable development in the talent pool of breakthrough athletes enjoying the seasons of their careers in the countdown to the prominent global event.
Chasing the golden carrot of competing inside the 2012 Olympic stadium in Stratford, East London in the sixteenth edition of the championship, there is certainly no shortage of burgeoning athletics youth eager to compete on British soil during their physical peak in August 2017.
Seventeen-year-old Morgan Lake is a prime example. Having set no fewer than 10 lifetime bests this year, she captured the IAAF World junior heptathlon and high jump titles in July – the former in a world under18 record – which earned her the prestigious IAAF Rising Star of 2014 award.
“When I heard that London won the 2017 bid (in 2011), I was naturally very excited and after the 2012 Olympics, this excitement grew even more and London 2017 felt like a great way to build on the legacy of the Games,” Lake explained.
“Although 2017 still feels like a long way away, it is inspiring my performances a lot, as it is keeping me focused for a long term goal.
“Competing at London 2017 would be a dream come true, as I can already tell that the atmosphere will be electric. By 2017, I’m not sure what my performances will be like, but I would hope to make a top eight finish (in the heptathlon)!”
Another to have relished a significant breakthrough summer was 400m runner, Matthew Hudson-Smith.
The 20-year-old improved his 2013 best by an astonishing four seconds to 44.75 en route to collecting his first senior international individual medal, with silver at the European Championships.
“I was happy to hear that London would be hosting the IAAF World Championships in 2017 – at the time it was announced, I was a junior and had over ever watched it on TV and then after seeing how good London 2012 was, I knew London 2017 will be a great event,” revealed the Commonwealth and European 4x400m relay gold medallist.
“Right now, I am taking it one year at a time – I am aiming for the IAAF World Champs in Beijing in 2015 and the Olympic Games in Rio in 2016. After this, I will work for London 2017.”
Fresh from a swift 13.17 British junior 110m hurdles record and a world junior bronze medal, David Omoregie is fascinated to see what he can go on to achieve following an exciting debut season away from the multi-events with his sole focus on the barriers:
“I was really happy to see our country have the opportunity to host another major event,” recalled the 19-year-old.
“I would have never have thought I’d be doing the hurdles instead of multi-events, never mind running the times I have so it really inspires me to have the possibility of competing there if I keep working hard!
“In 2012, I suffered a major knee injury and was considering quitting but watching Jess (Ennis-Hill), Mo (Farah) and Greg (Rutherford) at the London Olympics really inspired me to get back healthy and on the track to compete.
“The fact that there is another opportunity to compete at the Olympic park in 2017 really motivates me as I know if I can make the team, it will be something that I will never forget and not be able to compare to.”
Meanwhile, 2012 Olympic 1500m finalist, Laura Weightman is determined to return to the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park following a superb summer.
The 23-year-old registered a fine 4:00.17 lifetime best in July ahead of winning Commonwealth silver and European bronze medals in what was undeniably the season of her career.
“Hearing London would be hosting another major championships after London 2012 was very exciting,” she explained.
“In 2011, I didn’t think I was going to be good enough or ready for London 2012 so now to have experienced that, it is so exciting knowing I can experience that atmosphere again.
“London 2012 was an amazing experience – for it to be my first major championships was scary but exciting. The atmosphere in the stadium was incredible! I can’t sum up in words what it felt like being stood on the start line having 80,000 people cheer for you. I was 21 having the time of my life, an experience that will stay with me forever.
“I am very excited for London 2017 – there is nothing more inspiring and motivating than being able to represent your country at a major champs in your home country. I hope that I keep working and improving so I can go there and be someone that everyone is scared of!!”
Elsewhere, one of the biggest surprises of British Athletics in 2014 came from 100m sprinter, Chijindu Ujah who sped to dazzling 9.96 lifetime best clocking in June to shoot to third on the British senior all-time list.
The 20-year-old European junior champion spoke of his London 2017 ambitions:
“The feeling knowing that London had won the 2017 IAAF World Championships was a great moment and real motivation for people like myself to push on and turn dreams into reality competing for Great Britain on home soil.
“I feel the world champs in London will go on and inspire more young people like the way 2012 Olympics did, which will have an impact on a generation causing more people to take up the sport.
“Even looking back on 2012, going down to the stadium to watch some events like the 800m final gave me that extra motivation to want to be at London 2017 even more – the atmosphere was electric.
“My personal goals and dreams for these champs aren’t just to make the team, but to make the final and medal – and look back on the world champs as a glorious moment in my career.
“I believe at this moment in time, myself and my coach are taking steps in the right direction to make it happen and I can only pray that one day my hard work and dedication will get me to London 2017.”
Endurance runners are commonly known for hitting their performance pinnacles later on in life and 29-year-old Gemma Steel is no exception.
The European cross country champion moved to third place on the British all-time list for the half marathon with a 68:13 lifetime best in September before grabbing her continental victory, as she looks forward with intrigue to progress to the marathon distance in 2015.
“Missing out on London 2012 and watching such a great event from the side-lines has motivated me to want the experience in 2017 and make up for it,” she revealed.
“A home world championships will be so inspiring, as it will recapture the memories of the Olympic legacy for so many and it will be a huge advantage for British runners as we will be competing on home turf in front of a home crowd and the extra boost that gives you.
“In 2017, I shall be a more experienced distance runner and my aim is to get to the start line as fit and ready as possible, perform to the best of my abilities on the day and ideally, challenge for a top eight spot. In the marathon, anything can happen on the day with all the athletes pretty well matched so if all goes to plan, I’d like to think that I could challenge for a medal.”
