Josh Kerr wins world gold for Britain to succeed Jake Wightman as world champion (Picture: PA)
Going out to the World Athletics Championships in Budapest as a pundit, knowing I would not be able to defend my 1500metres title, was certainly different.
After winning the world title in Eugene last year, I knew I would still go out to Hungary and be doing something and I was looking forward to going and still being involved in some way.
As soon as I landed, it dawned on me what I was actually doing. I had to join a line to pick up my media, rather than athlete, accreditation and that gave me a little kick.
It’s one thing being there in a pundit capacity but the experience made me realise how much I want to make a long and successful athletics career out of what I do.
People, very kindly and sincerely, kept asking me if I was alright on the day of the men’s 1500m final but I had known from back in June I would not be world champion any longer due to my foot injury.
I also knew my time as champion was coming to an end that day. As it turned out, the way I passed on my crown was so nice.
To be able to be succeeded by a fellow Edinburgh Athletics Club member in Josh Kerr was an amazing story. Josh is three years younger than me and someone I’ve known from a very young age and, with his brother, we would be on the relay teams.
Jake Wightman had a watching brief in Budapest but will go for Olympic gold in Paris (Picture: Instagram)
He always had that great belief and confidence that you have to have to win things. Our approach to racing is quite different – I still have self-confidence but wouldn’t outwardly show it. It’s that complete belief in his own ability that makes Josh so dangerous as an athlete and I was sure in Budapest Josh was going to do something and try to win the final.
I knew it would be tough and that there were no guarantees about where the gold would go. On paper, it looked like Jakob Ingebrigtsen could do it but I thought Josh had a real chance.
His victory did not leave me disappointed to be losing my title because I wasn’t in the race and there was nothing I could have done about the scenario. I would have been gutted, of course, if I had tried to overcome injury and finished lower down and not really done myself justice. I know I would have gone into the championships undercooked. My body needed time.
I wouldn’t have wanted to be going into Olympic year with the wrong mindset after putting myself through that. A bit more time and I would have tried to have made the startline. I did ask myself what I could have done had I been in the race but I did not want to push myself when I didn’t need to. Now it is all about next year and making that as successful as possible for me.
I saw Josh’s mum and dad straight after the race and went along and celebrated with them.
It does suck watching from the sidelines, though, and I can’t wait to be back in contention, fully fit. It’s not far away now.
I did manage to have a ‘normal’ summer that included going to the tennis at Wimbledon, a day of the Ashes and The Hundred cricket. It’s the first time since I was 14 I have actually been able to do that.
Golden boy Josh Kerr celebrates his world title (Picture: Reuters)
You could say in some ways the injury was a blessing in disguise. I ended up buying a road bike and went out with friends on that and for the first time I wasn’t having to say no to invitations to do things.
I am back in full training again, give or take, and feel great. I have just had niggles from not running for a while but that’s normal.
I know if I can keep my body in one piece, 2024 will be a big year for me. And after watching Josh win gold in Hungary, I’m more motivated than ever to give the best account of myself in Paris.
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