Perri-Shakes Drayton is injury free after three years and set for British Championships and Olympic trials
By Mark Ashenden
Last Updated: 24/03/17 12:00pm
When you ask a world class athlete who's just run her first race for three years where they want to be this summer and they say "Rio Olympics" in a barely audible whisper, you get it.
Perri-Shakes Drayton was GB's big hope in the 400m hurdles at the 2013 World Championships in Moscow six months after becoming European indoor champion. Her left knee was battered in the final and needed surgery.
Tears, comebacks, rehab, false hope, more injuries, more tears. Now there's hope. It's the British Championships and Olympic trials in Birmingham this weekend and the 27-year-old Londoner, who describes herself on social media as an 'athlete with the biggest smile', is quietly hoping she's back.
The ex-Sky Academy Sports Scholar, now focusing on the 400m flat, reveals all…
That smile for the last three years has had its up and downs. Not every situation has been a smiley matter. My injury has given me hell. I didn't think I'd be out of action for so long.
What kept me fighting was the hope. I knew I had potential for Rio and that hope kept me going. It's never an easy road after an injury. I managed to get through it by being positive and being surrounded by my family and coach.
I never once wanted to give up, but there was a point when I stopped asking myself if I would run again. I never seemed to reach any of my recovery deadlines. That was very annoying.
My crying started from the beginning as soon as I was told I needed an operation. I felt so lonely. I linked up with Dr Steve Peters [who's worked with England's and Liverpool's footballers] and he talked about his 'chimp' and needing to deal with any negative thoughts entering my head.
He taught me to do things that made me feel good and happy about myself. That turned out to be getting my hair and nails done and online shopping! Buying things made me feel good.
My coach Chris Zah has also helped so much. He's coached me for 16 years - he's a legend. We grew up together from grass roots to world level and he's still battling with me today!
We are very close. During my low times I could vent to him and my dad. I take on board what he says and he knows what I'm capable of. When he sees my running time on his stopwatch he tells me if I'm in the right place.
During all my rehab I couldn't go on holiday, but I was able to go to New York for treatment and that was great having one-on-one treatment with [former Chelsea FC physio] Dave Hancock . It was intense but I came back feeling much better.
I still wasn't able to run but I was making improvements and I felt I was really getting there. I started running in 2014 and then I needed more surgery and it was more setbacks.
Every year with a major championship coming up I kept telling myself 'maybe next year'. I was still on the bike and having pool sessions and then reality would hit me. But by the end of 2015 I started feeling good and was thinking, 'I've got no pain, we've got a chance'.
I was all set for my first race in America but then I hurt my hamstring and they wrote off my season. I thought, 'How many times am I going to be tested?' I stayed out there for rehab with my coach and my boyfriend kept me positive.
The weather helped and I just tried not to think about everything too much. I finally got to run a relay in Regensburg in Germany on June 6 and I loved it. I thought, 'This is where I need to be - this is where I belong'. It gave me great confidence and I thought, 'I've still got it!' My legs felt good and the knee held up.
Next was Geneva for my first individual race and despite heavy rain I ran a good time (52.59s). In Nancy, France last week I was quicker again (52.43). I'm definitely heading in the right direction.
And now for the Olympic trials this weekend. I'm really looking forward to it. I usually go into a competition as the fastest girl but not this time!
But I know I've tried my best. I'm a fighter and that's my middle name. Although I may have to be content with a relay spot. There was a point when I didn't think I would ever be in action again so I'd settle for that. I just take each day as it comes.
Something that's helped me in the past, way back before the 2012 London Games, was being a Sky Scholar.
Getting sponsorship and having all that support was amazing. The money was great obviously but it just made my life easier where I could concentrate on being an athlete.
To be featured on Sky Sports News HQ was fantastic. Sky gave me insight to lots of avenues I could take after athletics, like in the media. Presenter Vicky Gomersall was great and she saw my world. Support is so important and I'm so grateful for everything I had as a Sky Scholar.
I also do my own fitness classes and I've started a partnership with a water company where I put on classes in different iconic locations in London - like the Shard, Acquatic centre and the Shoreditch studios.
My latest one was on a ship! It's really helped my motivation and taken my mind off things and all my training. You can't be too wrapped up in your own little world. I've enjoyed every minute of it and I wish I could do it more.
It's been a busy few weeks but after the trials, there's nothing in the diary - we'll just see how it goes. The top two in Birmingham get automatic spots for Rio and if I don't make that I have time up to the middle of July to get the qualifying time of 52.2s. I've done 52.43 so I'm not far away.
Over the next few months I would love to make the Rio Olympics. All I want to know is that I've tried my best, but I know I've done all I can to get there.
WHAT'S COMING UP FOR OUR SCHOLARS
23-26 JUNE: Lucy Garner, National Road Cycling Champs, Stockton-on-Tees
24-26 JUNE: Holly Bradshaw, Jessica Judd at British Championships, Birmingham
25-26 JUNE: Quillan Isidore, British BMX Round 7 & 8, Burgess Park
29 JUNE: Siobhan O'Connor, Scottish Open Long Course
