When the London 2012 Olympics get underway all eyes will be on the athletics stadium. Considered the heart of the Olympic Park, the events that take place inside it are the showpiece of the Games.
For all the athletes featured in this article the Games will be one of the biggest events of their career. For some it’s their first taste of the magic of an Olympics, for others it may well be their last. And while their hopes and goals for the Games may differ, they have all put in years of dedication and training just to get themselves to the start line.
With the IAAF announcing that Olympic qualification started in May, this summer’s athletics season has just become more important then ever before. Even golden girl and face of the Games Jessica Ennis, a favourite for heptathlon gold, will have to prove herself worthy of a spot on Team GB by putting in some first class performances this year.
Athletes will be using the domestic Aviva Series, a host of Samsung Diamond League meetings and also international competitions such as the IAAF World Championships in South Korea as qualification platforms. Here’s our pick of some of the names you should watch out for this athletics’ season.
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Related stories:
Sportsister meets Louise Hazel
Athletics: Jodie Williams goes for gold
Athletics: Double victory for Ennis
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Jodie Williams
Described by UK Athletics head coach, Charles van Commenee, as ‘the sort of athlete every country is waiting for,’ sprint sensation Jodie Williams knows a thing or two about winning. She ran for five years, and 151 races, racking up countless junior World and European titles before eventually experiencing her first loss last year. Having now started the transition to senior racing, where the 17 year old very nearly medalled on her debut at the European Indoor Championships in Paris, it will no doubt benefit her career to have finally tasted defeat before she stepped up the ranks.
Despite opting to side step the World Championships this year, on the advice of her coach, in favour of the European Junior Championships she will still be aiming to qualify for 2012. And whilst not expected to reach her peak until the 2016, or even 2020 Olympics, Williams is such an exciting talent that you won’t want to miss her race.
Image credit: NikeWomen
Joey Duck
Like Jodie Williams, Joey Duck is coached by Mike McFarlane, but the sprinter has had a tough twelve months battling with injury, forced to train mainly on a bike, whilst watching Williams catapult herself on to the main stage. Back to fitness now she’ll by vying for a spot with the sprinters at 2012 and hopes to compete at this summer’s World Championships to help with her Olympic qualification.
No stranger to success at just 14 she proved her talent by recording the 2nd fastest time to ever be run by a girl in the 100m event for her age group in the UK, breaking a record which had stood for over 30 years. More recently at the U23 European Championships Duck won gold in the 4×100m relay team.
Image credit: NikeWomen
Louise Hazel
The gruelling sport of heptathlon, considered by many to be the toughest on the track, has a great pedigree with British athletes. Denise Lewis won gold at the Sydney Olympics, Kelly Sotherton medalled at the Melbourne Commonwealth Games, Jessica Ennis is the current World and European champion (and a favourite for gold in London) and Louise Hazel is the reigning Commonwealth champion.
The 25 year old stepped out of Ennis’ shadow at the Games in Delhi (Ennis was injured and unable to compete) and clocked up her first senior international win with a personal best score. Expected to compete at the World Championships this summer, it will be great to see the two Brits up against each other.
Paula Radcliffe
For 37 year old Paula Radcliffe the London Olympics will be her last shot at winning that elusive gold medal. Having never lost a race in the city of London, and it being the place that she ran her still standing world record time of 2hr 15 min 25 sec, a time that no other woman has come close to matching, it’s obvious why it holds a special place in her heart.
The Olympics on the other hand have been an event dominated by frustration, injury and tears. This time she hopes to get to the start line in peak condition and add to her eight marathon victories. She’ll be racing in the Bupa London 10,000 road race this month, an opportunity to run on many of the roads that will make up the Olympic course.
Image credit: nikestore.com
Upcoming events
29 - 31 July 2024 - Aviva UK Trials and Championships
The GB and NI team will return to the Alexander Stadium aiming to be crowned national champions and in turn book their spot on the plane to Daegu for the IAAF World Championships.
5-6 August 2011 - Aviva London Grand Prix
Part of the prestigious Samsung Diamond League, a series of the top 14 Grand Prix meets from around the world, this event at Crystal Palace will see top names competing.
27 August- 4 September 2024 - IAAF World Championships
The worlds finest athletes will descend on Daegu, South Korea, in a bid to be crowned world champion. This will be a crucial indicator of form ahead of London 2012.
More info: www.uka.org.uk/aviva-series
Louise Hudson, Sportsister
The Women’s Sports Magazine
