How did you enjoy the Olympic Games?
We have been so consistent for this whole season and as a squad, we have worked so hard for so many years to be in a position where we are consistent global medalists. It has taken a lot of work individually, and as a squad, so it is nice to just see that depth and consistency pay off.
What is it like running for your country?
I get super emotional just watching, especially when that Union Jack goes up. When you are growing up and watching the Olympics or the world championships, you are at home like everybody else. Then you go from watching it to doing it and achieving a dream. You are very aware of the effect it has on you, your family, your community, your country, and how proud they are. It is an amazing experience but humbling as well.
The difference between gold and silver is often a matter of a fraction of a second. How do you train to get just that tiny bit faster?
I think you just keep working hard to get faster overall. Wherever you find yourself, between fourth and bronze, or gold and silver, or gold and breaking a world record, there's always something to be pushing for. So, you are always just trying to be better, trying to make sure you are getting those extra hundredths, tenths of a second anywhere.
If you could start over and choose another sport what other disciplines appeal to you?
There are loads of sports I would have liked to do, but none that I would be good at! If I had to choose, I would have loved artistic gymnastics, it is so impressive. At the Olympics, we are pushing the boundaries of human performance. When you are sprinting, it's speed and time and you're doing it with pure grit and aggression, but for the artistic gymnasts, they're just doing it so beautifully and I think that's amazing. I could not do that, I don’t have the coordination, the skill, the patience, the flexibility, any of it, but it would be cool.
What would people be the most surprised to learn about your career as a professional sprinter?
There's a lot of pain, both physical and emotional. I think people already know this but I don’t think they quite understand the level. You are always pushing yourself to a point where your body cannot do it anymore. It is part of the job, but I don't think there are many jobs where you are constantly taking your body to places that other humans don't, and that's just the entry-level, the standard part of the job. If somebody had to step into my shoes or actually live my day, I think that would be the most shocking part.
How do you cope with the pain?
I think after you've been doing it for quite a while, you just turn off your brain. I think that's the discipline element of it all. People talk to athletes about motivation, but for me, motivation isn't a factor, I don't consult how I feel when I go to training, I just do it because it's required.
You have been a Hublot ambassador for a long time now, how important is a partnership like this to you?
It is important because more than anything it's about support and family. I do an individual sport and when you know that you've got somebody who's there for you through the highs and the lows and they're proud of your achievements and proud of who you are as a person, it means a lot, not just because I am an athlete but also for the person I am. I also really enjoy being with Hublot because their watches are beautiful. I love dressing up when I am off the track and their timepieces are so easily wearable in all aspects of my life.
Which model are you wearing?
The Classic Fusion 29mm. I love it because my wrists are tiny, so I love anything that is small. During the Olympics, I was wearing the blue version so it matched my kit, but my favourite one is the green.
What advice would you give a young athlete starting out?
The big secret of life is that nobody really knows what they're doing, so even people who look like they have it together, don’t. So, if you're doing something new, trying a new sport, or even going down another avenue in life that's new, and you feel like you don't know what you're doing, it is OK. Just explore, have fun, and see where life takes you.
