World Athletics Indoor Championships 2024: Hannah Brier 'riding wave' after almost quitting
- Published
Hannah Brier has represented Wales at two Commonwealth Games
World Athletics Indoor Championships 2024 |
|---|
Dates:1-3 March Venue: Emirates Arena, Glasgow |
Coverage: Watch live on BBC TV, BBC iPlayer and online; Listen to commentary on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra & BBC Sounds; Live text and video highlights on the BBC Sport website and app. |
Hannah Brier says she is "absolutely loving riding the wave" of representing Great Britain after almost quitting athletics last year.
The 26-year-old is Wales' sole representative in the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Glasgow.
She has been selected for the women's 4x400m relay team - her first senior GB vest.
But Brier, the Welsh 100m record holder, admits she "really struggled last year".
"I had a little bit of a difficult patch, I could see myself really stopping the sport," she told BBC Sport Wales.
Fortunately her coach, former European 4x400m relay champion Matt Elias, saw Brier's potential over a longer distance.
Brier began training for the 400m in October and just a few months later she is preparing to compete alongside the world's best.
"It's been a massive whirlwind from trials, then had a phone call to say I was going, and then all of a sudden I am in Glasgow," Brier said.
"He [Elias] said for years, 'Hannah you will end up stepping up to 400' and I've gone 'no that's not going to happen, it's such a long way'."
Brier says the training for the change of distance has been "intense".
"I found myself lying on the floor most sessions struggling to get up, especially because I work full-time as well. I have to work in the day, travel an hour to training in Cardiff... drive back home and get up and do it all over again the next day."
The training has been worth it though as Brier won gold at the Welsh Indoor Championships in January.
She then set a new personal best at the UK Athletics Indoor Championships in Birmingham, with a time of 53.36 seconds.
Allow X content?
This article contains content provided by X. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read X’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
"I knew I was in really good shape," said Brier.
"We did a few sessions in training and I was thinking 'ooh that time is a little bit quick' and Matt was going 'you're really good at the moment Hannah, don't doubt yourself'.
"But there is always that little thing at the back of your mind going 'was that a fluke, did Matt time that correctly?'"
Brier's return to Glasgow as part of Team GB seems fitting, as it was where she competed in her first Commonwealth Games as a 16-year-old in the 100m heats.
"I couldn't ask for it in a better place, it's a home crowd amongst all these amazing athletes and I'm really trying to soak it all up at the moment," Brier added.
"Being around the top athletes in the world, seeing how they warm up, seeing how they go about their day, it's so fascinating. I am almost starstruck everywhere I look at the moment.
"For me it's coming to these championships and showing other Welsh athletes that you can do it. I did not think I would be in this situation a few months ago.
"There have been so many people who have messaged me saying 'I can't believe you're in that position, that is so inspiring'.
"That is so motivating for someone who is just trudging along, working every single day, training every single evening.
"It just shows if you really want it and you're willing to put in the commitment and motivation, then you will get outcomes like this."
Brier's focus will be on representing GB in the relays on Sunday, but admits she has one eye on this summer's Paris Olympics.
"For me now it's about carrying on with what we're doing in training... I think 'keep progressing, keep enjoying' and I don't see why not.
"It's an athletes' biggest dream competing at the Olympics, so I can't write it out."