THE KID FROM FLAME
Five years after carrying torch at London 2012 Desiree starts her bid to light up Olympic Stadium again
DESIREE HENRY bids today for the chance to light up the Olympic Stadium for a second time.
At just 16 she was one of seven youngsters who lit the flame to start the epic 2012 London Olympics.
Now Henry aims to go back and run for 100m gold at the World Championships being held at the same venue next month.
First she must qualify at the trials in Birmingham this weekend.
Having already got the qualifying time, Henry, now 21, must make sure she’s in the first two to make her dream happen.
A bronze sprint relay medal at last year’s Rio Games and a European relay gold three years ago have established her as a big name British athlete.
But that march into the London stadium is still vivid in her memory.
“That day is in my head in slow-mo, absolutely clear,” she said.
“I have been back to run in the Anniversary Games but this is going to be insane.
“I kept looking at where I lit the cauldron and thought it was amazing. I’ll be doing it again, looking around, but it will be at the World Championships, one of the biggest events. I’ll be using all those feelings inside of me, all those memories, as incentive for the race.
“When I was there lighting the flame, I was thinking ‘Wow, I want to be back here as an athlete, competing.’ Then I watched the athletes getting ready to compete and I thought ‘this is the best thing in the world, let me do this.’
“Years later I’ve put myself in a position to go back and run for a World medal. All I have to do is get in the top two here. It’s there for me to take.”
Henry had to keep her big moment secret from her family five years ago. Only her mother knew as she slipped off for Olympic rehearsals.
“I have three older sisters and they were looking at me and mum and wondering what was going on? In the end my mum said ‘make sure you watch the Olympics and see who you can recognise!’
“But there are no secrets this time. All my family will be in the stadium for the Worlds.”