Jodie Williams in Paris, her third Olympics
Paris was such an fascinating one as a result of it was such a special expertise. For me, I’ve. I’ve solely as soon as been to a championship, only for a relay. Umm, it’s not one thing I notably have ever loved doing. And like I mentioned, I believe I’ve solely ever achieved it as soon as, and in every other years that I’ve had that’s unfolded, I’ve turned down the place. However for me, in 2024, nothing was going proper. I used to be working very, very poorly all through the season. I used to be actually struggling mentally. Understanding that I used to be additionally coming to the top of my profession, it was exhausting to push by way of to the top, particularly an occasion as brutal because the 400. It’s difficult to push by way of when it’s not going proper.
And the 400 was simply hurting in a manner that that they had by no means actually harm me like that earlier than. I used to be having some bizarre signs occurring in my physique. So it was mentally difficult for me that yr, even attending to the top of a 400. Each time I stood in line, I didn’t need to be there, and it was simply actually exhausting, very exhausting, and really painful. And once more, pure grit dragged me by way of. I had spoken to the selectors earlier than, and so they have been very very similar to, ‘We have to see one thing very, very huge from you at this champs.’
I managed to tug one thing out of the bag sufficient for them to contemplate me, after which we ended up with that medal with all 8 women on the rostrum, and it was only a distinctive expertise. And for me, it simply meant that as a result of I used to be simply there for a relay and I’m one of many older, extra skilled athletes, it was a really completely different position than I’m used to taking part in, and it was a blessing. Actually, it was so nice to expertise it from a special aspect. Clearly, there’s nonetheless strain, however I knew there was much less strain on me than in a person occasion, so I felt like I may give the youthful athletes a little bit extra time to be a bit extra of a information. And simply to actually get pleasure from it for myself. Actually, it was my most fulfilling Olympics by far. So, it was an amazing expertise and a approach to shut issues out.
The 2020 (or actually 2021) Video games had been such unusual ones. For me, that was – I don’t need to say closure – but it surely was nearly an affirmation of the athlete that I all the time thought I used to be, however I had by no means actually managed to tug it off. A lot of this sport is timing and luck in your aspect – these issues have by no means actually been on my aspect. I believe I’ve all the time had the expertise, and I’ve all the time been a really exhausting employee, however a number of issues simply didn’t work out… simply the timing wasn’t there for me, or I used to be overthinking issues a number of the time.
So 2021 was simply a type of years, and I believe any athlete will inform you that generally you simply have these years the place every thing is fantastically aligned. Every part simply went completely for me, even all the way in which from medaling at European Indoors towards clearly nice caliber athletes after which carrying that momentum outside. That season, nothing went incorrect, which is remarkable, particularly for an athlete like me, and there have been a number of close to misses. Sure, I used to be carrying accidents by way of that entire yr that simply by no means totally went over the sting, so I used to be actually, actually fortunate. In earlier years, I’d had comparable accidents that I used to be nursing, then one race took me out, and I had managed to complete the season. So, I believe 2021 was simply a type of fantastically aligned seasons for me. I believe I solely had two in my profession. 2014 and 2021, the place issues simply went to plan. And for me, that Olympic closing race was similar to an affirmation that, OK, we weren’t delusional, like, you really are this good. You do belong racing this caliber of athletes, which settled one thing in my spirit.
Simply making this closing alone, in a brand new occasion, and I’d solely run 4 400s earlier than that yr, I stepped up and medalled indoors after which was an Olympic finalist with two back-to-back 49s. I’d pulled a efficiency out of the bag when it mattered most each time. On the time, I used to be gutted that it wasn’t sufficient to get that medal, which might have been such a pleasant finish to such an amazing season, however I actually couldn’t be upset. I went for it, risked it, went out sturdy, and didn’t have the legs.
That you simply obtained your PR in Tokyo within the Olympic closing (and beforehand your 200 PR in a European closing) says one thing about your skill to supply it when it issues.
I’ve all the time been a championship performer. And because it got here to the top of my profession, I turned much more so. So I’ve all the time been somebody who wants a little bit of strain, and I simply want one thing on the road to tug it out of the bag, particularly within the 400. However I all the time discovered that my most wonderful performances, for those who take a look at most seasons, my season’s finest will all the time be when it issues at trials and the championships. And it could possibly be a bit dangerous, for positive. I’ve all the time been that athlete. Typically, I simply struggled to search out the opposite races. I’m somebody who actually wants a cause to be doing issues, and I must be very passionate to have the ability to pull one thing out generally. For Diamond Leagues, I’m simply not motivated. Cash and stuff haven’t ever motivated me. So, I simply struggled to carry out in these races when nothing was at stake apart from cash.
Watch Jodie Williams discuss extra in regards to the Paris Olympics
