Coaching alongside Yohan Blake, the second-fastest man ever over 100m and 200m, is one thing few can declare to have skilled. For Nia Wedderburn-Goodison, nonetheless, this grew to become her actuality when she was given the chance to affix his coaching group final yr.
The 19-year-old seized the prospect to be coached by world medallist Michael Frater for six weeks in Kingston. The expertise has proved to be helpful, with the Briton clocking a private better of 11.21 seconds at Lee Valley in June after which competing within the 100m ultimate on the UK Athletics Championships, going through a powerful line-up of senior athletes and ending sixth.
At simply 16, Wedderburn-Goodison grew to become the British under-20 champion after which European under-18 champion in 2022. Now, she is setting her sights on the world under-20 gold medal this month in Peru. Pushed by her goals, she has excessive Olympic aspirations for her future.
How did you get into athletics?
It began after I was 5 and it was due to a sports activities day win in reception. I wasn’t even in major faculty but. Earlier than the sports activities day I had been telling my dad and mom that I used to be the quickest in my faculty they usually didn’t consider me. They then got here right down to sports activities day and watched me win by fairly a distance. From there they took me and my older sister to a observe membership and I haven’t stopped since then.
Nia Wedderburn-Goodison (Mark Shearman)
How did it really feel to run a PB of 11.21 this yr?
I felt 11.2 had been coming for a very long time. The primary time I ran 11.3 was in 2022 so even again then I used to be trying to run 11.2 however I received injured mid-way by the season and I couldn’t realise my full potential. This season it was a giant aim to cut down on that PB and seeing that point after I crossed the road was unreal. I used to be positively anticipating to see a drop, however I feel I simply wanted the right race and I received that.
What was it like being the one junior within the British Championships ultimate?
I really feel like that’s at all times the extent I’ve wished to be at. I’ve been doing the game for 14 years and I’ve watched all of the senior ladies on TV. I used to be 15 after I first began dreaming of lining up with these athletes however, again then, it wasn’t as lifelike, so it was an ideal feeling to make that ultimate.
I positively gave it my all in that race and that’s one thing I might be happy with, however I wished extra from the race as a result of I went into the competitors ranked fourth and I got here out sixth. I used to be nonetheless happy with myself after the race to be the one junior within the ultimate, however I nonetheless really feel like I might have gotten extra from the competitors.
Nia Wedderburn-Goodison (Mark Shearman)
How was your coaching expertise in Jamaica?
The principle focus over there’s athletics. I must depart the place I used to be staying at 5:30am to get to the observe and we might be coaching for 5 hours. Coaching in Jamaica is a complete totally different stage, I used to be coaching alongside the likes of Yohan Blake and Briana Williams with Michael Frater teaching me.
My uncle manages the sprinting group Titans Worldwide in Jamaica and he has been telling the coaches about me since I used to be 13. In January final yr I had a while to take six weeks away from faculty in order that they introduced me over.
What did you are taking away out of your time spent in Jamaica?
It confirmed how a lot tougher they work over there. Folks within the UK work laborious however Jamaicans dwell and breathe observe. I took that have as I used to be going to work as laborious as them in order that I might get to the extent the Jamaicans are on. It was positively wanted, I discovered rather a lot.
As seniors, Yohan Blake and Michael Frater gave me a whole lot of recommendation so it was an ideal expertise. I even needed to maintain my cool and faux to be skilled.
Nia Wedderburn-Goodison and Renee Regis (Getty)
What’s your coaching set-up now again within the UK?
My coach is Ryan Freckleton and he trains fairly a couple of senior athletes similar to Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake and Jona Efoloko. There are seven or eight of us and we practice kind of on daily basis other than Sundays. All of us push one another, and I get a whole lot of recommendation from the senior athletes.
Who’s your inspiration?
Usain Bolt is the cliché reply however for me he has been so constant. There was a by no means a yr he had a “down yr”. I feel his consistency that he had is one thing that I aspire to have within the sport.
I additionally look as much as Dina Asher-Smith as a result of she has that British document and is placing British sprinting on the map. Daryll Neita and Imani-Lara Lansiquot as effectively, there are such a lot of ladies arising now and I look as much as all of them.
Nia Wedderburn-Goodison pips Pleasure Eze (Mark Shearman)
What’s your largest achievement to date?
It must be successful two gold medals [in the 100m and sprint medley] on the European Beneath-18 Championships as a result of that could be a title that you simply carry with you on your complete life.
That was what we had been working in the direction of all yr. I had by no means competed at worldwide competitions earlier than and me and my coach labored in the direction of that gold medal all yr.
What are your final objectives?
I’d wish to be an Olympic gold medallist – I’m considering far forward however I positively need to be a gold medallist within the 100m, 200m and the relay. I’m at the moment constructing to be a 200m athlete as a result of proper now it feels so lengthy.
This yr I need to win gold within the World Beneath-20 Championships in Peru in August and I feel we have now a very good shot on the relay gold, too. I mainly need all gold as a result of you may’t consider anything, it’s a must to consider in your self.
What message would you give to your youthful self?
Be affected person, belief your self and consider within the course of.
» This text initially appeared within the August difficulty of AW journal. Subscribe right here
