The British athlete looks back on her stellar career that saw her shine on the global stage in the 100m, 200m and 400m
Jodie Williams, a three-time Olympian, officially announced her retirement last month, bringing her incredible career to a close after one final performance at the Paris Olympics.
There, she helped Team GB secure a bronze medal in the women’s 4x400m relay – a fitting end to a journey that has spanned more than a decade and included numerous highs, some lows, and a lot of hard-earned success.
The 31-year-old leaves the sport on her own terms, a decision she is at peace with. Her final race in Paris was not just about the medal, but about being able to walk away knowing she has done everything she set out to do.
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(@jodiealicia)“It’s really special for me to be able to walk away knowing that I have done everything that I wanted to do and I was very present in the final years of my career,” says Williams.
“I can walk away on my own terms rather than injury or something else forcing me out, or simply my body giving up on me.
“I’ve always wanted to make sure I wrap things up in a conscious way and it feels like the right time for me. Mentally, the last three years have been a real push and I am really proud of myself for everything I have managed to achieve.”
Williams’ rise to success began when she was still a teenager. She quickly made a name for herself as a teenager, claiming world junior and youth titles over 100m.
She also won European junior and under-23 golds, whilst also making the front cover of AW on numerous occasions.
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As a senior sprinter, Williams found her stride in the 200m, where she would go on to claim numerous medals, including silver at the European Championships and Commonwealth Games.
She cemented herself as the sixth-fastest British 200m runner, clocking a personal best of 22.46 in 2014 to take second place at the European Championships, behind Dafne Schippers.
Looking back, Williams highlights her standout moments with pride – especially her victories at the Glasgow 2014 and Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, where she won 200m silver and 400m bronze, respectively.
“My individual Commonwealth medals were really special to me. Glasgow was my first ever senior medal and I shared the podium with Bianca [Williams], in 2022 I got to share the podium with Victoria [Ohuruogu] and both of those moments were very…
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