The Tidworth-based soldier aiming for Paris 2024 Olympics
Sam Curry competes in the Modern Pentathlon
The Olympic dreams of a soldier based in Tidworth are being supported by the British Army.
Lieutenant Sam Curry says his ambitions are being boosted by the Army’s programme for elite athletes.
Through the Army Elite Sport Resilience Margin (REM), Sam has been able to represent Team GB at the European Championships this year and hopes to reach the Olympic Games in 2024, competing in the Modern Pentathlon.
Sam says he’s grateful every day for the opportunity and resources that the Army provide him with:
“The British Army put so much stock in its sort of sport and why it's all pumped so much money and time and effort into it, because there are huge crossovers between sort of army and sport.”
Those crossovers, Sam says, include resilience and the ability to dig deep when required through training.
How Sam can qualify
Sam qualified for the Tokyo 2020 games but was ultimately selected as a reserve athlete.
Team GB will have two representatives in the Modern Pentathlon, one of whom is Olympic and World champion Joe Choong.
Sam has his eyes on that other place but will have to wait until May or June next year to find out if he’s made it.
He said: “For the rest of us men, it ultimately boils down to the World Cup season, which begins in March and runs through right up to May, which is basically where you build your world ranking and to get world ranking points.
“That then leads into the World Championships, which are being held in China.
“(Selection) goes right down to the wire and it's fantastic thing to be part of stressful at times. But I wouldn't change it for the world.”
Sam has already claimed a medal for Team GB this year, earning a bronze medal at the European Championships in the Pentathlon mixed relay.