Leeds Beckett University - City Campus,
Woodhouse Lane,
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Tom Bosworth: My honour at representing Leeds Beckett in Rio
British record-holding Race Walker Tom, who graduated in 2013 after studying BSc (Hons) Sports Performance, reached Rio after winning the British Olympic 20km Race Walk Trials at Woodhouse Moor in June.
That came four years after suffering the heartbreak of missing out on a place at London 2012 by just 19 seconds.
Tom, who still trains on campus under the tutelage of national coach Andi Drake, says he was better for that experience and he is now relishing the prospect of competing on athletics’ biggest stage.
He said: “I probably won’t (realise what I’ve achieved) until I get on the plane and that is when the real emotions will come to the fore and I will think: Oh my word, this has been one crazy season.
“I have finally achieved what every athlete wants to achieve and qualify for the Olympic Games.
“Four years ago, missing out on London was agonising. Everything was going so well. I was a very different athlete then. I had a lot of time to take off my personal best over 20km to reach the qualifying time for London. There was a challenge to get to that level.
“Coming into this season I already knew I was at that level. I got a number of qualifying times for Rio already. So the pressure was off in that way but I also had to tick the boxes: Qualify top two at the trial and stay fit and healthy.
“This time I made sure there was no chance I wasn’t going to make that qualifying time.”
Tom has enjoyed a breakthrough year ahead of the games, smashing the 28-year-old British record over 20km at the IAAF Race Walking Challenge in Dudince, Slovakia.
The 26-year-old says he is now looking to outperform his 24th-placed finish at the World Championships in Beijing last year.
“The British 20km record was the most important to me because that’s the international distance and completed my set a little bit. That really put my name out there and showed I can be competitive up at the front now,” he said.
“That’s what I want to go and do in Rio: be as close to the front as possible. I was 24th in Beijing at the World Championships last year and wasn’t happy with that so that is the lowest minimum possible and hopefully I’ll be a lot, lot higher than that.”
As for the role Leeds Beckett has played along the way, Tom is unequivocal that he wouldn’t have been in the position he is without the help and support of staff and coaches.
He added: “I enjoyed being a student and that enabled me to train full-time as well. That’s what is brilliant about this university, how willing to support their athletes they are and how accessible the courses are for someone like me who’s travelling all the time and committed to my training but also has the passion to study at the same time.
“Leeds Beckett is my home still. I have been here seven years now even though I’m not a student anymore.
“It’s that family vibe. I’ve got the same coaching set-up and training partners as when I was a student. Everything from psychology to nutrition is the same and has been throughout this journey which means this season has come together so well because we are well-practised in what we do.
“Representing Team GB will be the greatest honour but also I wouldn’t be here without Leeds Beckett so it’s an absolute honour to fly that flag as well and I can’t wait until I step out onto that racecourse and become an Olympian.”