The 16-year-old British middle-distance runner impressed this summer with gold in Slovakia but she would love to make her mark at the Olympics
While the world’s top athletes were celebrating their successes at the Paris Olympics, Lyla Belshaw was revelling in her own triumph after dominating at the European Under-18 Championships in Slovakia.
The 16-year-old ran a championship record time of 4:13.01 in the 1500m to claim gold thanks to a powerful kick in the final 100m, with team-mate Isla McGowan completing a British one-two with silver. This adds to Belshaw’s growing list of accomplishments, which include winning the 2023 Mini London Marathon and earning a 1500m bronze at the Commonwealth Youth Games later that year.
Her 1500m PB of 4:12.19 in May puts her first on the UK under-17 rankings for this year (and she has also run 2:02.93 for 800m), but the Colchester Harriers athlete is not only making waves on the track – she is excelling in the pool as well. What sets her apart is her unique training regimen as she spends more time swimming than she does running.
Inspired by watching her friend, 17-year-old Phoebe Gill, compete in the 800m Olympic semi-finals, Belshaw has her sights set on making it to Los Angeles 2028.
Lyla Belshaw and Isla McGowan follow Wilma Bekkemoen Torbiørnsson (Getty)
How did you first get into athletics?
I started running at my primary school and I did a couple of cross country races. I did a national ISA [Independent Schools Association] competition and after that I decided I wanted to start doing it properly when I was in Year Six. I joined a club, Colchester Harriers, where I am now and I’ve taken it from there.
I was definitely always better at the longer stuff in primary school, rather than the sprints, so I knew I always wanted to do longer stuff. I always thought I would keep going up in distance but I’ve ended up sticking with the 800m and 1500m because I much prefer it.
How did you feel during that European Under-18 Championships final?
We got taken off the start line three times and, usually, that would have shaken me up. But it settled me because I had some time to think through the race, the worst bit about it was I was getting really warm.
When we started I didn’t get into the best position on the first lap. Previously, I have messed up races by losing a good position and wasting energy to sprint back but this time I stayed relaxed and worked back slowly to where I wanted to be. We definitely picked…
CLICK HERE to Read the Full Original Article at AW…