Athlete Amber Anning aims for Olympic glory

The 2024 Olympics are finally underway, and athletes from across the globe have arrived in Paris to compete on sport’s biggest stage.

Amongst those in pursuit of Olympic glory is Team GB’s Amber Anning.

The Brighton and Hove Athletics Club runner will compete in the 400 metres and the 4 x 400 metre relay.

After an excellent year, Amber says she’s heading to the games with high expectations:

“I definitely want to go all the way, and medals, that would be life changing!”

“To not only say you’re an Olympian, but you're an Olympic medallist, I mean that is just an amazing achievement.”

Her season culminated in the UK Athletics Championships and Olympic trials in Manchester at the end of June.

In the 400-metre final, Amber won the race, setting a British Championship record and securing her place on the Olympic team:

“I went out there and really contended, finished in that top position and booked my ticket to Paris.”

“You can talk about these dreams of wanting to be an Olympian, but just seeing how it all unfolded, and then my mum awarded me my medal in the ceremony as well!”

“It was a really special moment for me, but and a lot of hard work and sacrifice went into that.”

Those sacrifices Amber mentions have involved some huge life choices, and her sporting journey began from an early age:

“I started off with Brighton and Hove Athletics Club when I was nine, and tried every event, really enjoying it.”

As she got older, Amber began to focus on the 400 metres more specifically, and started working with the legendary coach Lloyd Cowan MBE, who sadly passed away in 2021.

Perhaps the biggest decision was to move from her home in Hove to attend the University of Arkansas in the USA:

“I think going to America was a great move for me, I felt a little bit too comfortable in England and I felt like I needed to push myself a little bit more.”

“Just seeing the times that the girls are running, the facilities and the opportunities to go out there and not only train, but graduate and get a degree, it was just kind of a win-win.”

The decision certainly paid off.

In the past year, Amber has won her first indoor national title, setting a PB and breaking the elusive 50 second barrier, as well as setting a new indoor British 200 metre record.

She puts her success down to level of commitment and focus she has found:

“I've put so much effort into this year, and been really intentional with everything I do, from my eating to my sleeping, to who's around me, just taking care of my both my body and mentally.”

Amber feels those careful preparations and attention mean she’s in a great position to make the most of this opportunity:

“I'm at the fittest I've ever been, this is the most consistent and fast I've ever run, I'm really right up there with all the girls.”

“So, why can't I contend for a medal? Why can't I be in that position? That is really my goal!”

Amber will begin her Olympic journey in Round 1 of the Women’s 400-metres on the 5th of August.