Rising stars

McLean still inspired by missing out on world juniors

Published

1 week ago

13 de February de 2025

James Cartwright

Rising StarsSPAR Sprint Stars

By Ryan Walters,

HAYLEY McLean believes she still has plenty more to give despite storming to gold at the English Schools’ Track and Field Championships.

MORE TO GIVE: Hayley McLean with her gold medal from the English Schools’ Track and Field Championships

The 17-year-old had hoped to be spending last week in Barcelona for the World Junior Championships, but after missing out on the qualifying standard by just seven hundredths of a second McLean instead had to settle for a trip to the Gateshead International Stadium.

McLean was eager to make up for missing out on the trip to Spain, storming to senior 400m hurdles gold in 60.01secs, almost two seconds faster than her nearest rival.

But despite comfortably claiming the top step of the podium, McLean is adamant she can go faster still, the disappointment of not reaching Spain set to spur her on all the way to next season.

“I didn’t think my performance was too good but I got the win that I was going for so I guess overall it was alright,” said McLean.

“My season had been going pretty well and I had been trying to qualify for the world juniors and got pretty close but I have gone downhill from there.

“Technically it has been fine but just time-wise I have not run the fastest I know I am capable of.

“I ran about two-and-a-half seconds down from my personal best but the title is great to have, so it’s brilliant.

“I think my first 200m is quite laboured and it takes me quite a while to get going. My last 200m is faster, which is quite weird, and so if I come out faster I think I will get there.”

Brought to you by SPAR, Official Sponsors of UK Athletics. For more information visit www.spar.co.uk

Rising stars

Grainger backs Stanning to cope with weight of London 2012 expectancy

Published

1 week ago

14 de February de 2025

James Cartwright

National School Sport WeekRowing

KATHERINE Grainger is well averse to the pressures of Olympic fever – and the Scottish rower has urged compatriot Heather Stanning to take it in her stride ahead of London 2012.

EXPECTATION: Katherine Grainger admits Heather Stanning and Helen Glover will have to deal with the pressure of London 2012

With three Olympic silver medals to her name Grainger’s unbeaten last two years alongside Anna Watkins in the double scull leave her an overwhelming favourite to banish her painful Games memories with 2012 gold.

In comparison to the battle-hardened and worldly wise Grainger, Stanning is a fresh face – not yet tainted by the pain of any Olympic disappointment.

Indeed after bouncing back from two consecutive World Championship silver medals with a pair of World Cup victories in 2012 Stanning – and women’s pair partner Helen Glover – have been backed to begin their Olympic campaign in the finest style of all, by claiming gold.

Grainger knows only too well what goes through a favourites mind in Olympic year having headed into 2004 and 2008 as a reigning world champion.

And she believes, if Stanning rejoices in the lofty expectations on her and Glover, she could deliver on her considerable potential in London.

“To be fair Heather and Helen have shown their quality at the World Championships taking a very close silver last year and silver also the year before in their first real international experience,” she said.

“So I think all of us in the team have been hugely impressed by the way they have just arrived on the world stage and blown it away.

“They have always had the potential to be the frontrunners in their event. This is the first time this year that we have seen them ahead of the other favourites.

“Once you become a favourite then you have a target on your back and everyone knows you are the ones to beat which makes it difficult.

“But it’s a pretty great position to be in at the same time because it means at the moment you are the fastest person in the world, so yes it’s known you are the ones to beat, but it is a very strong position to be in.

“And I think that is how they need to see it; they need to see it as that is their strength. People will look at them to lead and they should embrace that.”

And, while the pressure will be on Stanning to be one half of a gold-medal winning combination, Grainger admits the Lossiemouth rower is lucky in that it won’t be all eyes solely on her in London.

Stanning’s boat is just one of a host of gold-medal contenders including Grainger herself and she added: “The nice thing is they haven’t had Olympic experience before so they go into it with real excitement and enthusiasm.

“And the good thing for them is that they are surrounded by an experienced team so they can get a lot of help and advice along the way.

“There is a lot of reassurance that it is not the only boat we are focused on so there won’t be this horrible, crippling pressure on how they are going to do, they are going to be one of a lot of successful boats so they should really enjoy that.”

Bank of Scotland National School Sport Week took place from 11-15 June 2012 and is Scotland’s biggest school sport event with over 1,800 schools and half a million pupils taking part, staging their own Games. Find out more at www.schoolsportweekscotland.org

Rising stars

Tanner already focused on making a splash in Rio

Published

1 week ago

13 de February de 2025

James Cartwright

By Pete Grant

THE waters may only just have settled after British Rowing’s best ever Olympic summer, but Performance Director David Tanner insists the blood, sweat and tears start now as preparations for Rio 2016 get underway.

HOME COMFORTS: Eton Dorney witnessed a British boat in every final during a successful London 2012 campaign

At London 2012, Team GB built on the six-medal haul of Beijing four years ago to scoop an unprecedented nine podiums finishes, including a record four golds.

The host nation came in as overall winners, topping the rowing rankings amid jubilant scenes at Eton Dorney where every category saw a British boat in the final.

But the next chapter looms large in the shape of Rio 2016 and for both the returning heroes and emerging talent, the hard work starts now.

Appointed GB Rowing’s Senior Team Manager in 1991, 64-year-old Tanner successfully masterminded the strategy for London 2012 and the international coach of over 40 years has already drafted his ‘Road to Rio’ action plan.

Several Olympic stars have already announced plans to return. Coxless fours winners Alex Gregory and Pete Reed are already back on board and lightweight sculls champion Kat Copeland has recently pledged her future to the sport.

And Tanner is confident that no matter how many of his Olympic heroes plough on for another shot at the podium, there will be a new crop of talent vying for a place on the plane to Rio.

“The plans for Rio are well underway. I’ve been there three times and I’ve prepared my detailed four-year plan,” said Tanner, who was awarded a CBE in 2009 for services to rowing.

“We’re still working things through with the Olympians who want to come back and those who want a bit of time out from the sport. It’s great that so many have already confirmed but we certainly have built a strong shadow group to come through.

“For instance, we took nine boats to the European Championships in September with no Olympians involved and we came back with five medals, so that’s extremely positive.

“In terms of building talent, we’re deadly serious. We’ve got a World Championships this year in Korea and we may not produce quite the number of results we did during the Olympics but we intend to build that team right through.

“The coaching team is the same as four years ago and that went extremely well. It’s a challenge but we’ve proved that we can do it.”

Tanner, who has taken charge at six consecutive Olympics, is buoyed by the huge level of interest rowing received following the uncharted success of London 2012.

British Rowing, the sport’s governing body, began their successful Start Programme in 2001 to identify and develop future Olympians, and the scheme received over 1000 applicants this year with 350 being put through their paces.

Five of London 2012’s gold medal heroes came through its ranks, including Heather Stanning and Helen Glover, GB’s first-ever female winners.

As Performance Director, Tanner knows the importance of nurturing this talent, not just with the talent-spotting programme but also by harnessing the wealth of talent in the university sector.

“There has been a massive attraction to rowing recently, and many have been inspired by our Start programme because of what Helen and Heather achieved,” added Tanner, a former secondary school headmaster.

“What was really encouraging was that 40 per cent of those coming forward were women and girls and normally it’s about 15 per cent.

“I see the importance of the university sector particularly in growing senior rowers – it’s a sleeping giant.

“At a national level, it’s all part of my Road to Rio plan, which includes a particular focus on university rowing. The athletes are always there, we just have to make sure they get involved with our sport. If we build it cleverly, it can be a catalyst for something big.

“It can also help develop the showing of top rowers from the less traditionally rowing universities, which is extremely positive.”

Among those pledging their future to rowing after London is gold-medallist Gregory, another successful product of the Start Programme.

The 28-year-old Olympic champion said he had no hesitation in making his choice and insists the massive boost in the rowing’s popularity post-games will in turn lead to more success on the water.

“It was an easy decision for me, I always wanted to push on for the next challenge,” said the 28-year-old, who took the top spot in the coxless fours in his debut Olympics after narrowly missing out on a place in the boat at Beijing.

“There’s never been a better time for British rowing. I hope we can grasp this opportunity and really put rowing on the map now it’s in the public eye.

“The real benefit this year is that success breeds success so it’ll push the standard on. It needs to happen because all the other countries won’t stand still.”

British Rowing’s Chairman Di Ellis has seen it all in her 24 years at the helm, and the 74-year-old is preparing to stand down in 2013 after overseeing Britain’s meteoric rise to Olympic dominance.

A former British rower and coach, Ellis insists that no matter what the outcome of the next Olympic challenge, GB’s finest will be at the top of their game for Rio.

“This year has been absolutely incredible,” said Ellis, awarded a CBE in 2004.

“To have all our crews in the finals was wonderful, and I’m especially proud as I’ve been waiting 36 years for that first women’s gold medal and to have three was amazing.

“I’m not so sure if I’ll be there for Rio, but whatever happens I’ll definitely be with them in spirit.

“One thing’s for sure, rowing will be ready. As it was for London, it’ll be ready to take on the world.”

Rising stars

LONDON 2012: One year to go but focus already turning to Rio 2016

Published

1 week ago

13 de February de 2025

James Cartwright

Posted: Wednesday 27th July 2011 | 0:00

LONDON 2012 might be exactly 12 months away but leading charity Sports Aid are already looking ahead to Rio and beyond.

EXAMPLE: Local Heroes, a scheme backed by London 2012 partner Lloyds TSB, is among many Sports Aid schemes (Nathan Gallagher)

Since 1976 the charity has enabled thousands of young athletes to achieve their sporting ambitions, distributing more than £30 million in the process.

At the Beijing Olympics, 18 of the 19 British gold medallists had been beneficiaries of Sports Aid funding, with London 2012 chairman Seb Coe among their early success stories.

“While today’s focus is naturally on 2012, we are already asking what July 2013 will look like,” said Sports Aid chief executive Tim Lawler.

“This is the ninth Olympic cycle Sports Aid has worked through and it is by far the most important.

“It would be great if we could repeat the success of Beijing next year but for us, a good result from 2012 would be a greater willingness to help the next generation.

“It is a unique opportunity for us to help more young sportsmen and women in Britain and raise awareness about the fact that our investment in them has to start long before they make a name for themselves.

“That would be a genuine living-legacy, helping to build a stronger future for British sport, and particularly our young sportsmen and women who hold such great promise. If that were to happen we’d be in great shape beyond London.”

Rising stars

Miller realises she has an Olympic ambition after watching London 2012 firsthand

Published

1 week ago

13 de February de 2025

James Cartwright

Rising StarsSPAR Sprint Stars

YASMIN Miller received a VIP taste of London 2012 earlier this month and she’s vowed to use it as a springboard to experiencing the Olympic atmosphere firsthand as soon as possible.

MILLER TIME: Teenage sprint hurlder Yasmin Miller has got a taste for the Olympics after being invited to watch London 2012

As part of her involvement with the Spar Sprints Stars scheme, Miller was in the Olympic Stadium during the Games to witness the likes of Usain Bolt in action.

For Miller, 17, the moment awoke something inside the sprint hurdler as she it suddenly dawned on her that she could follow in the footsteps of the world’s best at Rio 2016 and beyond.

And with the 2017 World Championships to be held in the Olympic Stadium, Miller is hoping the spectator can become the champion soon enough.

“It was really good to have the experience of what a home Olympic Games is like,” said Miller.

“It was a really great experience and it was my first time at the stadium and it was huge and just a brilliant atmosphere to be a part of.

“Watching it on TV you think it is good but hearing the roar for yourself is just great. If it was me I think I would just try and blank it out and stay focused and I think the athletes do a really good job of that.

“This has really inspired me because before this I never really thought about being an Olympian – it was never in my mind.

“But this year after what has happened in this country and with the Games and everything I want it to be my goal now and that is what I will start working towards.”

Before she can dream of senior glory however Miller admits she has plenty of work to do in the junior ranks.

And with the European Junior Championships taking place in Italy next summer, Miller insists she can see no better platform to highlight her talent.

“The season just gone was good but it could have been a lot better and I think I missed out on some chances to go faster,” she added.

“My performances have been OK but I would have liked them to be better and that is what I will be focusing on next season.

“There are the European juniors next season and that is my main goal so I just need to focus on improving and doing my best there.”

Brought to you by SPAR, Official Sponsors of UK Athletics. For more information visit www.spar.co.uk