I’ve had years of struggles… but I’m not a quitter
JODIE IS JUST HAVING FUN NOW
JODIE WILLIAMS is on a mission to honour her late grandmother at the World Championships after finally getting her mojo back.
Williams was the junior who could not lose, who became a senior who could not win.
There have been challenges, mental and physical, after she won 151 successive junior races.
But a new start in Phoenix, Arizona with new coach Stuart McMillan sparked a transformation and the 25-year-old heads to Doha this week as British champion over 200 m.
“I’ve come very close to quitting quite a few times,” said Williams. “I had many years of struggles. It felt like
multiple rock bottoms. The last World Championships in 2017, when I missed out in London, was a rough year for me.
“But I’m not a quitter. I couldn’t let myself down. I wasn’t finished with this sport.
“I had to learn to enjoy things a lot more and have more fun and I’ve done that. My mentality is back to that of my younger years.”
Earlier this season Williams ran her fastest 100m since 2011 with 11.17secs. It was a major hurdle overcome. Buoyed by that, she went to the trials and won the 200m.
“I believe my senior career can start now,” said Williams. “There was a reason I was that good as a junior.
“There was a reason I came out on top like that. I think we will see that in my senior career.”
Williams is, however, unlikely to even finish top Briton in her event given that her team-mate Dina Asher-Smith is triple European champion and one of the favourites for the Worlds in Qatar.
“Dina’s success has upped everyone’s game by showing the rest of us Brits what is possible,” said Williams.
As much as she admires her, however, it is Jodie’s late grandmother who will be in her heart – and soon on her arm – at the coming championships.
“I generally get a tattoo after a big event or a big mental struggle or something I’ve overcome,” said Williams. “I have 14 of them.
“I have got one planned for after Doha, an elephant on my right inner arm.
“It will be for my mum’s mum, Pearl, who passed away recently aged
90 and it will symbolise the person she was.
“She gave me the strength to overcome things, having overcome so much in her life. She was a real inspiration to me.”