Kilty happy to complete Olympic 'recovery mission'

Richard Kilty has won medals at Olympic, World, European and Commonwealth level

Team GB sprinter Richard Kilty said that winning a bronze medal in the 4x100m relay at Paris 2024 completed his Olympic "recovery mission".

Kilty ran in the heats of the men's sprint relay before sitting out the final but he was still eligible for a medal as Great Britain came third.

The 34-year-old from Middlesbrough had been part of the relay team that finished second in Tokyo three years earlier, but they had their silver medals taken away after CJ Ujah tested positive for a banned substance.

"The last couple of years, it was almost like a recovery mission," said Kilty. "It wasn't to go out there and do something I'd not done before."

Redemption in Paris

Kilty overcame major injury problems in the run-up to Paris to make it to his third Olympics.

Just 12 months ago, he was with the British team at the World Championships in Budapest in a coaching role as he was still recovering from Achilles surgery.

But he pushed "through the injuries" in order to get to the Stade de France as he tried to add to his medal haul.

The sprinter had been on the podium in World and European Championships, both outdoors and indoors, as well as the Commonwealth Games, with only the Olympics required to complete the set.

Having pushed Italy for gold in Tokyo in 2021, Kilty, along with Zharnel Hughes and Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake had their silvers rescinded as a result of Ujah's subsequent 22-month suspension.

All three were in the relay team in Paris with Jeremiah Azu and Louie Hinchliffe as Great Britain ran in behind Canada and South Africa in the final and it was mission accomplished for Kilty.

"Last year, I just thought to myself, the Olympics is one year away and almost bite down on the gumshield, push through the injuries and throw the kitchen sink at it," Kilty told BBC Look North.

"I'd won an Olympic silver in Tokyo, I'd delivered the performances. I'd become World and European Champion.

"To finally come out and redeem it and bring the medal back forever was amazing."

CJ Ujah (far left) failed a drugs test resulting in the whole team being disqualified from Tokyo 2020 and stripped of their silver medals

Injury worries see Kilty miss final

Kilty's participation at all in Paris was in doubt as he struggled with his Achilles during the pre-Olympic holding camp.

He made it on to the start line for the 4x100m heats, but knew during that race he would not be in the right shape for the final.

Kilty quickly informed his team-mates before stepping aside for Hughes to come back in and anchor the team home for bronze.

"I had to be brave enough to take a step back and have the faith in my team-mates," he said.

"If I'd have run in the final, I wouldn't have been able to complete the race. It would have cost myself and my team-mates a medal."

'I'm going to coach and inspire the next generation of Olympians'

As he turns 35 next month, Kilty knows that he will not be around for the next Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028.

So the question turns to what next?

The Gateshead Harriers sprinter has said that he may carry on for one more year if his Achilles heals, with more surgery pending.

But while that is unknown, he is certain he wants to head down the coaching route.

His overarching ambition is to develop a series of athletes from the north east of England who will be able to compete at future Games.

"I want to set up shop in the north east and help our region develop more Olympic athletes," Kilty said.

"It can't just be me flying the flag in athletics for the north east. I'm going to set up an academy in Gateshead and Middlesbrough.

"I'm going to create, coach and inspire the next generation of Olympians."

Richard Kilty (far left) with Zharnel Hughes, Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake, Louie Hinchliffe and Jeremiah Azu