RACHEL WALLADER
IN 2016, RACHEL WALLADER’S SHOT PERFORMANCES HAVE BEEN THE BEST BY A BRITON FOR 15 YEARS. EILISH McCOLGAN CATCHES UP WITH HER TO TALK WORK LIFE, TRAINING AND WHY SHE LOVES COMPETING AT BEDFORD
ATHLETE INSIGHT
HE SHOT PUT wasn’t always my main event. I was one of those kids who did everything from sports hall to cross country and road relays. I loved the heptathlon. But I saw myself achieving more with the shot and so, as the years went on, I started to focus on the throws instead.
My best friend at primary school convinced me to go along to a training night. I turned up at Halesowen AC and I loved it so much that I signed myself up within days and have remained a member there for around ten years.
Rachel Wallader: British indoor and outdoor champion in 2016
MARK SHEARMAN
I became self coached in June 2014. I’m lucky that my boyfriend is also a thrower – we do the majority of our training sessions together. It works really well as we really push each other in training. It’s resulted in both of us coming away with personal bests. We also join up with talented Black Country thrower Dan Cartwright at weekends; this is proving to be really beneficial for us all, providing fun and competitive training sessions.