EMERSON TO STEP OUT OF THE SHADOWS
NIAMH EMERSON lost out to her sister the last time she went to an Olympics. Next time she does not intend to bow to anyone.
Emerson is the latest British heptathlete off the production line, following Denise Lewis, Kelly Sotherton, Jess Ennis-Hill and current world champion Katarina Johnson-Thompson.
She is 21, has not competed for 14 months and will probably not do a heptathlon before May 2021 – yet such is her talent that Ennis-Hill said: “Niamh is so impressive – she’s going to be rivalling Kat soon.”
It was watching Ennis-Hill at the London 2012 Olympics that persuaded Emerson multieventing was for her. Not that she saw her hero live – she lost out in a family draw for the best tickets to the Games.
“My sister went with Mum and saw Usain Bolt,” said the Derbyshire starlet. “I went with Dad and saw a load of heats!
“But it was still really inspiring. I vividly remember watching Super Saturday back home in our living room.”
Six years on Emerson was crowned world junior champion before stepping into the senior ranks and taking bronze behind champion Johnson-Thompson at the Commonwealth Games.
The Red Bull athlete would be at the Olympics now if it weren’t for the Covid pandemic – but the delay plays into her hands.
Emerson said: “I had knee surgery last summer and have spent a whole year rehabbing.
“Having a year to train for the Olympics is a different ball game – especially with the motivation I took from Kat’s win in Doha.”
To find out more on Niamh’s training, head to RedBull.com