Published: Thursday, 26th June, 2008 11:55
Sprinter eyes Beijing Olympics place
By Laura Cummings
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IT’S often said that once you get a taste of success you’ll only want more and that is certainly the case for Aberdour athlete Nick Smith.
The 25-year-old sprinter is aiming high and setting his sights on competing in this year’s Olympic Games in Beijing after getting a snippet of the action in Greece four years ago.
The aspiring Olympian travelled to the Olympic Games in Athens in 2004 when he was 21 after being selected for the Great Britain relay squad although he wasn’t actually picked to compete in the race.
Now Smith is determined to pull on his GB vest for real by clinching that all important spot in the starting line-up for the 100m race in the world’s biggest sporting event this August.
“At least I’ve got that (Athens) behind me, although it’s a different country and culture I’ve still got that experience,” said Smith when Press Sport spoke to him last week at his training ground at Pitreavie.
“It was a fantastic experience and one I would like to live again.
“Every athlete does dream about lifting a medal – to be on top of the podium with a gold medal around your neck, you couldn’t describe the feelings and emotions you would have at that point – it would just be unbelievable.”
However, first up is the UK Olympic Trials in Birmingham on 11th-13th July which will determine Smith’s fate.
He will have to sprint his way through three rounds of trials to make it to the Olympics – the heat, semi-final and the final, competing against some of the UK’s top athletes along the way.
“It will be very tough to get to the final,” he acknowledged.
“You’re always up against seven other athletes (in each round) and all the top sprinters from across Britain will be competing.
"If I stay relaxed and concentrate well there’s a chance of me getting to the final – it’s just what happens on the day.
"It will be a big achievement for me in its own right. To get there (Olympics) would be fantastic.”
He continued, “I’m feeling confident, the season’s going well so far.
"I’m constantly running at 10.45 so hopefully come the trials I will be ready to peak at the right time, and hopefully I will get to the final and get amongst the medals.”
But Smith will have his work cut out for him if he’s to take the Olympic spotlight with Jamaican Usain Bolt smashing the 100m world record this month with a time of 9.72 seconds.
Smith, who is currently ranked 12th in the UK for the 100m and eighth in the 60m, will have to meet a qualifying time of at least 10.21 seconds to be in with a chance of competing in the Olympics.
He commented, “There’s room for improvement but I think I’m capable of getting close to it.”
On a positive note Smith won the 100m race at the Northern Ireland Championships convincingly last Saturday and also achieved a new season best of 10.43 seconds.
And based on his training efforts, he should be in with a good chance of competing in China as the keen athlete works out no less than six days a week for at least two hours every day – alternating his training with track and weight sessions.
He often trains with Irish sprint champion Paul Hession, who has already been selected by the Irish Association to compete in the 200m at the Olympics, and Allan Scott, who looks likely to be chosen for the 110m hurdles at the Beijing event.
Smith also praised his coach Stuart Hogg. And looking ahead he also has London 2012 in his sights telling the Press, “I will certainly be around for the London Olympics.
"As an athlete you want to represent your country on home soil.”
Along with several other athletes, Smith is part of ‘Team B&Q’, benefiting from a full-time salary and employment package at the DIY store, with flexible hours fitted around his training and competition schedules.
Smith, who works at the Dunfermline store, said the programme had helped him to develop further in athletics.
He added, “The staff have been very supportive. It’s the best job an athlete can ask for!
“Hopefully they will continue this programme up to the London Olympics in 2012. I will probably be at my peak then.”
Nick moved to Dunfermline (Garvock Hill) from Edinburgh when he was 18 before moving to Aberdour with his mum and dad over a year ago.
He added, “My times are coming down gradually all the time as well which is encouraging. It would cap it off if I got to the Olympics!”
Smith will join Pitreavie athletes Graeme Oudney, Francis Smith and Eilidh Child in the colours of Scotland for Tuesday's Bank of Scotland Cup match at Grangemouth Stadium.
Smith will race the 100m and 200m medley relay, while Oudney will go in the 800m and Francis Smith will compete in the 400m hurdles.
Child will contest the 400m hurdles for Scotland, who will be aiming to make it a hat-trick of wins in the Bank of Scotland Cup.
Scotland will take on Wales, Ireland, a USA juniors team and a Bank of Scotland development team, while international stars Carolina Kluft and Andy Baddeley will compete as guests in the long jump and 800m respectively.
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