1. How long have you been involved in athletics and what made you start?
I started athletics when i was in Junior School and loved sprinting and used to come first in all my sports day events. (but i never tried throwing) So my parents took me down to my local athletics track and i started off being a sprinter and loved it. Then after a while we moved to southampton and i didnt know where the nearest track was so i missed a couple of months. After a year or so i joined a netball team and every match we went to was in the middle of southampton right next to an athletics track. So, a couple of weeks later i joined 'Team Southampton' athletics team and became one of their sprinters. Then as i was getting ready for my 100m at the Hampshire County Champs' one of the girls had broken her leg and i had to fill in for her for the Javelin. I didnt know what to do! So i had ago and came second with a throw of, 18 metres. After that day i have been training with my Coach Bill Bushnell and have been getting better by the day.
2. Why javelin throwing? Do you do any other events?
As i said, i used to run 100m and still do a bit sprinting now and again. I love Javelin it's my pride and joy. If i go away for a couple of weeks i'm dying to pick one up and throw it.
3. Who have been your biggest influences in the past and present?
My parents have been encouraging, supporting and have put in soo much effrot into getting me up and down the country and trying to help in every possible way. My Coach has been great aswell, because he can't always be with me at all my comps hes very enthusiastic and also supportive about me to get far and do well. He lent me one of his old javelins.
4. Can you describe your best memory/achievement in your javelin career so far.
My best memory was only a couple of days ago when i was with 'the Mortimores' in Finland. That must have been the most ful filling couple of days of my life and i will not forget that. My best achievement has probably getting a UK record. I couldn't believe it when Sam said it was a UK record, i was over the moon.
5. Can you describe your worst memory/ disappointment (if you have one) My worst disappointment was coming 4th in Engish Schools last year by only a couple of centimetres. It killed me that i couldn't stand on the podium
6. What are your short term and long term goals for the future?
My short term goals are getting another UK record and winning English Schools and beating the record and most of all i need to improve on my technique as Matti keeps on reminding me. My long term goals are hopefully getting into some of the more serious comeptitions and throw against more challenging competitors and be throwing at 2012.
7. Do you train alone or with a group? What are the advantages and disadvantages of your situation?
I sometimes train with people and sometimes not. It depends if people come down to the track. My coach is the main coach for Javelin, Discus and Hammer and so many people come to him. It also depends on the days because on Tuesdays and Thurdays all the little kids come down and they are really annoying - mind i was one of those once! becuase they slow everything up and i can't get enough throws in. On Saturday and Sunday its only me or a couple of people and its really good because i can talk to my coach.
8.How often do you train a week and what is the session you most/least look forward to doing?
4 times a week. I love all my training sessions. Recently i have had a disscussion with my coach about weights and I have gone down to doing really light weights.
9. What or who is your favourite...
- Javelin- Nordic Indra
- Javelin boot- (dont really have a favourite)
- Training exercise- Medicine ball
- Gym lift- bent arm pull over
- Football team? dont really watch it.
10.Who was/is your inspiration, and who have you learned from the most? I have learned fromm my coach, Bill Bushnell, mostly, but in Finland Nigel Bevan gave me some coaching and it has made me think more about Javelin mentally. So Nigels a big inspiration.
11.Do you see yourself throwing for great Britain some day. and if you do then what kind of distances would you expect to be throwing? I extremely hope so. I would love to get to the 68m area.
12. You achieved your UK record throw with a very low rated javelin. Do you have any plans for getting a better javelin, if so which one? I have just got my new Javelin today! I am so happy. its a Nordic Indra. My first sponsor, Team Southampton bought it for me (nearly took out my dad because i was jumping around with it).
13. What do you consider are your strengths and weaknesses in your javelin technique and if you have any weaknesses what can you do to improve them? My technique is all over the place at the moment and i need some major tweaks. I need to keep my arm up, don't bend it, build up my speed at the end of my runup, get into a rhythm and throw over my left leg. I have quite a fast arm.
14. How do you balance school work and training?
Its going fine at the moment except ive missed quite alot of school recently because of Finland and soon English Schools next week. :/ But it's all fine because were at the end of the term and ive finished all my big assessments.
15. Who do you think will feature in the 2008 Olympic Final for both men and women.
Goldie will probably appear if she throws one of her good ones. I do hope Andreas Thorkildsen and Tero Pitakmaki do really well there my favs' at the moment.