Child taking a leap of faith for Olympics

If Eilidh Child needed any reminder of the potential fruits of her labours, she need only look across the training track for proof of what is possible with graft and no little talent. Less than four months from the Olympic Games, the Scottish hurdler is winding down the preparatory phase and steeling herself for the meaningful business ahead. A winter of toil, she hopes, will not be in vain.

In occasions of self-doubt, Dai Greene is quick to inject a note of optimism. The world champion, one of Child’s training partners at her base in Bath, is not so immersed in his own ambitions to neglect his role as the mentor of his would-be peers.

“Dai’s pretty good when it comes to talking about training,” reveals Child of the Welshman. “He’s pretty sane about it because sometimes you have days when it doesn’t go that well. It’s hard. He’ll point out that it’s just one session out of loads. He’ll say: ‘You can’t expect to run these sorts of times at this time of year. Save it for the Olympics.’ He’s very strong about it all.”

Although she has yet to record the UK Athletics qualifying standard for London, a minor improvement to her personal best would suffice. That is the primary mission, she admits. “I want to get the qualifying time as soon as possible because until I have that, I’m not going.”

Surprisingly for one so driven, the 24-year-old views the Olympics as a goal but not an obsession. Performing bridesmaid’s duties for her sister in Edinburgh on Friday currently sits atop the priority list. Malcolm Arnold, a veteran of 11 Games, has urged his charges to retain a sense of normality amid the forthcoming hubris. Yet inescapably, to succeed requires focus and resolve.

The Scottish champion has worked hard of late to master an enhanced hurdling technique which might help her match domestic rivals Tasha Danvers and Perri Shakes-Drayton. “When I get out to Portugal before the season, it will be specifics such as getting out of the blocks or the race rhythm,” she confirms. “The last couple of weeks have been tough. Every session is a hard session. “

Child senses she is ready to put her best foot forward. Hence it is her seasonal debut, most likely in May’s Olympic Test event in London, that she views with greatest anticipation. “I’m more eager to race,” she states. “Everything has gone well and you know all the hard work has been done.

“Now I want to see if it’s paid off. I feel more eager to run this season than I’ve ever done. I want to get onto a track and see what I can do.”