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From hitting apples to world domination

Olympics

by Goldie Sayers - GB athlete (U12171112) 03 June 2008

Goldie Sayers is Britain's top javelin thrower and is in the top six in the world.

The 25-year old from Newmarket will be competing at her second Olympics in Beijing.

I always had a dream to compete for my country at something and thought it would be in a ball game. I didn’t think it would be at the Olympics though. I used to think it was some kind of freak show that was so far removed from school sports day.

I’ve always loved the Olympics. I remember watching Linford Christie and Sally Gunnell doing their stuff in Barcelona in 1992. And now the trouble is that competing means you don’t get a chance to watch any of the action.

Athens four years ago was my first Olympics. I was staying in the same apartment as Kelly Holmes, so that was an amazing experience. We had four athletes in our apartment and all the other three won medals, so maybe I’m lucky.

I saw Athens as an added bonus. It was a great experience and it helped not having the expectations back then. There will be now though.

My build-up to Bejing has been good. The British team were training in South Africa in January which was a great opportunity for a bit of sun. Ultimately I ply my trade in a muddy field so it was nice to do it in a warm muddy field.

I’ve got a good partnership with my coach Mark Roberson. I’ve known him since I was 13 and have worked with him a few years. I train in Cambridge six days a week, twice a day, and also get in a visit to Loughborough every three weeks for physio and bio-mechanics work.

Athletics can be an intense environment, so it’s great having the balance of working in different places.

I’ve just finished an exam and did better than expected. It is a Chartered Institute of Marketing Professional Diploma. I just fancied using my brain and it’s actually proved to be a nice distraction as I plot my world domination with a spear!

I love the gladitorial nature of it all, testing how good you are over one day after four years of training

I didn’t properly get into athletics until I was about 18. It was always ball games for me and I’ve always had a natural throwing arm. At school, I was given a javelin to take home to practice with. We used to live opposite an equine facility unit where they bred horses and I remember they were experimenting with test tube breeding.

The field next to us must have been full of horses worth millions of pounds. I used to jump over the hedge and practice my javelin in there! It was the only area big enough to do it properly.

I also perfected my technique by taking on my brother at throwing cooking apples up a fir tree. He was just as talented as me, but he’s the most uncompetitive person I have ever met. I won most of the time.

I carried on doing other sports like netball, but I was working my way up through the levels in athletics and after some coaching with my javelin at Peterbrough Athletics Club, I improved by 10 metres in just three weeks.

I’m totally looking forward to Beijing. I love the gladitorial nature of it all, testing how good you are over one day after four years of training. I do get nerves, but it’s all good for getting your adrenaline pumping.

We went to Italy a couple of weeks ago for some intense training. I was also revising for my exam so I had no time to do anything else, but it did give me a chance to start focusing for the Olympics.

All the hard training is out of the way now and I’m in the best possible shape. It’s just a case of staying fit. In March I won the European Cup of Winter Throwing title in Croatia, with a throw of 63.65m so my form’s good. Come August and the whole slate is wiped clean.

You never know what's around the corner though and seeing what’s happened to my friend Jess Ennis is really scary, and makes you realise just how much you are on a knife-edge every day.

Athletes get niggles all the time. I had one last week and had to grab a load of ice out of the fridge to help as soon as I got home. Sport can be so cruel sometimes. All we can be is supportive, but she's young and will definitely be back.

I texted her after it happened and I told her she did the right thing by pulling out and then 24 hours later it all changed.

She’ll find it so hard to watch the Olympics. But once she’s got the anger out of the way she can move on. She's got all the talent in the world and I've told her that the gold in 2012 will be worth all the more waiting for. She’s just got to stay positive.

I’ve got a few competitions coming up before the Olympics. I’m off to Germany for the Grand Prix, then to Bratislava, and then it’s the Europa Cup. I’ll be back soon to let you know how my preparations are coming along.

In the mean time, if you’ve got any questions then feel free to chuck them up on 606.

Goldie Sayers was talking to BBC Sport's Mark Ashenden. She is just one of the 2008 Olympians and 2012 hopefuls appearing regularly on 606. Find out more.

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comment by bigben01 (U12108324)

posted Jun 4, 2008

Garbage in, garbage out: on a good day they are ignorant, bored and used to getting their own way.

Nice piece provides great color.

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comment by Antimal (U2806653)

posted Jun 4, 2008

Really good article. Great to read an article by a really committed athlete training for the Olympics...much better than the typical football rumour mill that is churned out this time of year!

Hope the rest of your preparation goes well and best of luck for August!

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comment by EdArm11 (U9609046)

posted Jun 4, 2008

I've definitely heard of Goldie Sayers....

Goldie not sure if you remember me...you gave me and a mate a lift to Loughborough train station after a BBQ at Will, Noodle and JP's a few years ago. I think we were a bit drunk, but i remember talking about your cricket playing bloke!

Anyway rambling aside best of luck in Beijing!!!

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comment by sublimesuperspur (U2847831)

posted Jun 4, 2008

Great article Goldie thanks. Always good to read and learn a bit more about sports and events that don't get so much attention in the media.

Sounds like everything's going pretty well for you which is great to read and I look forward to seeing how the rest of your preparation goes. All the best for now and in Beijing!

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comment by flem_uk (U1689454)

posted Jun 4, 2008

Great article, I hope you keep injury free this season and have a great Olympics!

One thing i've always wondered is how you approach the qualifying round in a major championships as this has been the downfall of quite a few over the year

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comment by DJHDJH (U3307238)

posted Jun 4, 2008

Hi Goldie

As a track athlete I've always been interested to know how much training throwers have to put in and how much this is split between working on the technical side of the event at the track, how much is general fitness work and how much is weights work in the gym? If you could give answers to that I would be very interested to hear them.

Good luck in Beijing - throw well and you'll get a medal regardless of what the others do.

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comment by AidanJapan (U12199435)

posted Jun 4, 2008

Good luck Goldie!

We were in many of the same classes at Loughborough, and its always great to see someone you know doing well for themselves! I remember one of your javelin throws sailing well over mine and the rugby lads in 2nd year APS! Keep up the good work! I hope you get a medal! pack your pollution mask though, the air's a bit grim!
I live in Tokyo these days, so I may even be in the stadium to cheer you on... Beijing is only a cheap flight away, and I am pretty sure Japan won't get the 2016 Games, and I probably won't be here for that anyway!

Ignore the cynism, most of us wish were elite athletes, paid to do what we love!
Ganbatte! (try your best in apanese!)
Aidan Leach

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comment by groomys (U7573633)

posted Jun 4, 2008

I'm amazed that you were given something as dangerous as a Javelin to take home. I was a competativejavelin thrower at school and they would have laughed at me had I suggested such a thing.

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comment by magicherc (U10824568)

posted Jun 13, 2008

Good luck Goldie

great article, I remember one of your first throwing competitions in yr7 (ish) at St Ives when you won the throwing event by miles and everyone was like wow, I guess you havent looked back since! I also remember you being pretty execllent at lots of sports, beating all the lads at table tennis at lunch time etc, how did you eventually decide just to stick with Javelin?.
I used to go to junior school with you so good luck in beijing, we will all be cheering you on
VW

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comment by stow123 (U1777558)

posted Jun 17, 2008

arguing already,its really tiresome why cant you just leave a message to do with the article instead of arguing when you dont even know each other.Anyway over 63 metres id struggle to throw it 15M amazing.Im looking forward to watching her now good luck Goldie.

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