High jumper Tom Hewes admits he nearly quit athletics before Birmingham gold

Tom Hewes won gold at the UK Indoor Championships in Birmingham

High jumper Tom Hewes has admitted he nearly quit the sport after losing motivation due to a catalogue of injuries and loss of form.

The 24-year-old surprised himself by winning gold at the recent UK Indoor Championships in Birmingham.

"This has reinvigorated my career... it's made me start to look at what I can achieve again," he said.

Hewes, of Chelmsford Athletics Club, set a new personal best [PB] of 2.18m to win.

His previous best of 2.15m was set in 2017 and, despite questioning his future, Hewes said he always believed in his abilities.

"I always thought that I could improve that PB - it's just getting everything right and not getting injured," he said.

Tom Hewes says his win in Birmingham has reinvigorated his high jump career

Hewes was a promising junior athlete and in 2017 competed at the European Under-20 Championships in Italy.

His career then stalled but after the triumph in Birmingham earlier this month, two former Olympians got in touch to congratulate him.

"I got a well done from [Olympic high jumpers] Robbie Grabarz and Steve Smith, so it shows I'm doing the right thing," he said.

Hewes added that his sights were now set on competing at this June's outdoor European Athletics Championships in Rome.

He next competes at the Essex & Eastern Indoor Track and Field Championships at Lee Valley next month, which he said he intended to use as a training exercise.