Why I Love Athletics

I have always loved the Olympics and World Athletics Championships, even before I became a runner. The opening ceremonies, flags and medal tables, it's like an expensive sports day for grown-ups. The heats, semis and finals with the explosion of camera flashes as everything comes down to the final few seconds as the commentators’ diction and emotions reflects what you are feeling, bringing you off your seat to cheer and rejoice in the blood, sweat and tears of athletics.

The showmanship, rhythm, stamina, leg speed and technique are essential but not enough if the athletes do not have the belief and attitude to succeed and make it to the finish. Elite sport is ruthless, pushing you to edge to see if you can last the course. I recommend the book The Talent Lab: How to Turn Potential Into World-Beating Success to find out how Team GB reinvented itself as a successful team with high standards and a winning attitude.

When I was growing up the Olympic Village was portrayed as a hedonistic matchmaking hub for fit people where athletics was something they did between horizontal bonding. This marketing strategy must have motivated some people to get into sports. Athletes are under significant pressure and they should enjoy themselves after they have done their jobs, however they see fit, provided it does not shame their country or sponsors. It is geopolitics in spikes, shorts and spikes with the host city part of the experience. The empty stadium in Doha in 2019 made the World Athletics Championships soulless. Then the Covid-hit Olympics in Tokyo 2021 emphasised the need for crowds. The athletes deserve it. Our nation’s best competing for pride, recognition and status to show everyone is included in the master race. If athletes are not allowed to compete they can blame their dictator governments.

If a cheek swab or blood test cannot determine if an athlete is female, the tight shorts and Lycra bottoms can help show what is what. Hats off to the women athletes who have voiced significant criticism of overtly revealing or sexy running kits, advocating for uniforms that are less sexualised and more focused on physical performance and comfort. Doing their bit to reject sexualisation in sports. Let all athletes choose what they want to wear as long as it is compliant with the rules. Just remember to cover up if you do show off your torso or the media will not interview you. It might be time to remake the 1982 sports film Personal Best, about the lesbian relationship between two track-and-field teammates whose relationship might interfere with their performance.

Athletics shows what you can achieve if you are willing to hone your talent, keep going and not give up. I love the studio analysis as retired athletes give expert insights on competitors’ personalities, potential and execution of race plans. I want to bring that approach to the workplace to show how strategic I am.

When talking about athletics you cannot ignore drug cheats and the damage performance enhancing drugs have on the sport. Outrageous but would banning athletes for life be fair when people can serve shorter prison sentences for grievous bodily harm with intent? Drug cheats can return to the sport after two years with tainted reputations but able to run alongside those who did not succumb to temptation.

The BBC does it best. The media coverage is a collaborative effort with the commentators making you listen even if you are only half watching. The track side reporters compete with international media to get athletes to sum up their performances which I presume they are contractually obliged to do. The triumphant, satisfied or crestfallen athletes review the race, reflect on what went well and what could have been better. They talk about faith, some make jokes and others ramp up rivalries to generate interest in the sport. And never forget to thank the National Lottery.

The disqualifications, the drama, the looks on people’s faces when they cross the line, not knowing if they won. Lying on the track, looking at the clock and results to see if it was them. It has been a great start to the Tokyo World Athletics Championships with thrilling 100 metre finals, the sprint finish for the men’s 10,000 metres final and the women’s long jump. Well done to Uruguay for the Bronze medal in the women’s marathon which made a lovely news story after a sprint finish between Gold and Silver.

Watching the Olympics and World Athletics Championships helps me remember my late mum who died years ago, but when I am watching exciting races, I can picture her on the edge of her chair loving every second of it.