Sarah Holt - Commonwealth Games
CLEAKHEATON hammer thrower Sarah Holt saw her debut British outing ruined through illness but has vowed to not let anything slow her down as she prepares for an assault on the Commonwealth Games.
The 23-year-old has had a tough season with injury and illness but has ended it on a high after being named alongside the likes of double European champion Mo Farah in England’s team for Delhi. The Sale Harrier heads to India off the back of a Great British call-up for June’s European Team Championships in Bergen only for a virus to limit her efforts to just 55.66m – nearly 10m down on her personal best. Holt failed to make an impact on the world class field in Norway but believes the Commonwealth Games will be a different story with her resolve strengthened after her European endeavour. “I am really happy to be going to the Commonwealth Games,” said Holt, who is part of the Original Source funded UKA Heroes initiative. “It was always my plan this season to try and make it to Delhi and I have been able to do just that so I am delighted. I went to Norway earlier in the year for the European Team Championships and even though I was a bit unfortunate with that through illness it was still a good experience for me and I took a lot from it. I am glad I have that under my belt as I head to Delhi and it should set me in good stead for the Commonwealth Games. And fingers crossed I will have no issues this time around with illness. I am not ill right now but I have had a bit of back trouble since the European trials in June and that has been flaring up again. I have had a problem with one of my discs since 2007 and it has come back again but I am confident I have enough time to sort it out before I go and I won’t let anything stop me this time around. I have had a bit of a sporadic season to be honest and it has been a bit stop start but I am looking to make amends for all that and I am confident of putting in a strong performance.”
While Holt is just starting her senior international journey she did collect European Under-23 bronze last year when she threw 62.55m to climb the podium in Kaunas. And it is the similarities she sees for the Commonwealth Games a year later that gives her belief she can climb the senior international podium for the first time. “I think I am ranked fourth or fifth at the moment going into the competition so if I can put together a strong series then I am hopeful of winning a medal,” she added. “It is a similar situation to when I went to the European Under-23s last year and I took home bronze then so let’s hope for a repeat at least this time around. It has been a tough season but it is a great way to finish and will be a great experience for me and a really positive one towards London 2012. You can’t really ask for a better stepping stone towards an Olympic Games than the Commonwealths and it is as close as you can come I imagine without actually being at an Olympics so I really want to do well.”
UKA Heroes project sponsored by Original Source is a successful initiative which offers financial support to talented young athletes who are working towards the 2012 and 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
