Jodie ready for debut

Jodie Williams: Making Olympic debut this year

World and European junior champion Jodie Williams is relishing the thought of her first major outdoor championships and more importantly running on home soil.

The 18-year-old first stole the spotlight at the 2009 World Youth Games where she was crowned both 100m and 200m champion and has since continued her success.

Labelled a child prodigy due to phenomenal track performances the Herts Phoenix athlete remains grounded and very optimistic about the jump from junior to senior competition.

"I try not to pay too much attention to it (label) and do my own thing and hopefully it will work for me," Williams told Sky Sports News Radio.

"Junior is the same fundamentals, you warm up in the same way and prepare for your race in the same way, brought out onto the track the same. It's just that at senior level it's a much bigger stage and a bigger scale, that's the major difference really."

The double world youth champion has said she is used to the attention she has got throughout her career and doesn't feel any pressure ahead of the summer's London Games.

Debut

"Because it will be my first major outdoor competition there's not really too much expectation and I haven't put too much expectation on myself. I'm going to take it as it comes and see how it goes."

Williams will still be 18 when the Olympics arrive in the capital and while most of her friends will be out celebrating their exam results, the youngster makes it clear her priorities are somewhat different.

"You have to be extremely dedicated especially if you're at a young age and you're coming up through the ranks, it's important that you stick at it as you've got to sacrifice a lot of things so determination is key.

"Obviously there's times when I'm thinking it's Saturday night I could be out with my friends but I can't because I have training the next day, it gets tough at times but it's all worth it in the end.

"My friends are all really supportive of me, they're always checking up on what I'm doing and watch my races. They've been really great.

Williams, who had a five-year-long unbeaten streak of 151 races in the sprints, is coached by Mike McFarlane - UKA assistant relay coach.

She hails her coach and family as her inspiration and continued support, and admits that not long ago competing in 2012 would have been somewhat of a dream.

Coaching

"Both my coaches are a huge thing that has helped me continue in sprinting," she added.

"My family have been so supportive of me, traipsing around the country for me for every competition. My coach and my family have been key. Only in the last year it's (Olympics) become a real hope for me.

"Four years ago there's no way I would have thought I would make the team, I was aiming for 2016. To have progressed to have a chance of making the team is amazing."

With a very sensible head on her shoulders Williams is aware of the ups and downs of the individual sport she excels at and hopes to end 2012 on a high.

"I've had a lot of ups but I've also had my downs in my career as well. Obviously I'm going to have downs, everyone does, I think it's all just about learning from them and taking them in your stride really. That's all you can do, learn from your mistakes and learn from your failures and use them in your success.

"At the moment I'm looking to qualify for the Games. I've got the qualifying time and I'm need to come in the top two at the trials.

"That's what I'm working towards at the moment and if that happens then we'll see how it goes."

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