SERENA 'DRIVEN' ON TO DO IT HER WAY
‘It just drives me on ... I’m not going to have someone tell me that I can’t do something because at the end of the day my results have clearly shown that I can ...’
By her own admission she's already achieved things she thought might have been out of her reach.
The British shot put records at under-17 - both indoor and outdoor - and under-18 level remain in her possession along with countless county honours while a mark has also been made on the international scene. And she’s still only 18.
When you factor in a World Schools Cup win in Croatia in 2019 and a few days spent as the number one ranked under-20 in the world earlier this year, it's easy to see why there is so much excitement surrounding this City of Portsmouth Athletics Club rising star.
Serena Vincent's results, as she's made the climb through the youth ranks, have virtually been unrivalled domestically in years gone by.
But this driven teenager is now set on trying to make her mark on the under-23s and senior world stage as she continues to move through the age groups.
'I’ve achieved things that I never thought I would have achieved,' said the number two world ranked under20.
‘I’ve been really proud of it so far and I’m just excited to see where I can go with it.
'I think next year is going to be a busy one - hopefully.
‘It’s the one where I’m going into senior competitions so it’s definitely going to be my biggest one yet.
‘It’s probably going to be my biggest challenge as a result of it, but I’m really looking forward to it because I love to do it.
‘I just love to see how far I can go with it and I’m really forward to it.'
Part of the British Athletics Futures Programme, hopes are high that Vincent can push on and star in the biggest senior events worldwide.
Naturally, the ultimate goal is to compete for GB at a future Olympic Games - possibly the one in Paris in 2024.
But the Portsmouth University student remains focused on the short-term rather than worry about goals that are still a long way off.
A brilliant end to this season after lockdown saw her finish third at the British Championships and throw a personal best of 16.10metres with a senior 4kg weight at the South of England Academy Throws festival at Portsmouth’s Mountbatten Centre in September.
The only person at world under-20 level to have thrown
I’ve never had it easy, I’ll do as much as I can and someone will always make a comment Serena Vincent
further than Vincent this year is China’a Yue Sun, who recorded a distance of 16.70metres in August.
For comparison purposes, Michelle Carter won gold at the Rio Olympics in 2016 with a throw of 20.63metres.
The world record of 22.63metres has been held by Russian Natalia Lisovskaya since 1987.
Vincent’s September results were exactly what was needed after losing some 'motivation' during lockdown with no particular event to train for during that period for the first time in her career.
But a strong end to 2020 has her back on track and targeting European Championships - at both senior and under-23s level - next year and a push for a spot at a home Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in 2022.
‘I was training (during lockdown) for the following year which felt really weird,' admitted Vincent.
‘It was the issue I think, it was the motivation that I lost, so I took a week off in the middle of lockdown.
‘It allowed me to clear my head and get my head back together and then I started again.
‘I think it was the best decision to have some time off and regain myself.
‘I like to take things a step at a time.
‘Obviously, I’m going to have my big dreams of getting to the Olympics and stuff but I like to be realistic with it.
‘I just feel that if I get my heart set on going to the Olympics in four years' time - anything can happen in that time.'
Incredibly, all of her achievements have come after Vincent took up shot put by 'accident'.
Originally starting out as a middle distance runner, a series of injuries forced her to turn her attention elsewhere if she wanted to continue with athletics
But things still might have turned out differently having initially decided to give the javelin a go.
But long term coach Bronwin Carter - who Vincent trains with five or six days a week along with fellow coach and father Andrew - told her to give shot put a try.
Vincent revealed she's not been without her doubters along the way.
Not your stereotypical shot put thrower, she is slim and tall.
It's meant many have had an opinion she would struggle to succeed in the sport - including coaches - but proving those doubters wrong is proving a driving force even to this day.
‘I was straightaway told that I was too small,' added Vincent.
‘I’ve never had it easy, I’ll do as much as I can and then someone will always have another comment to make.
‘But it just drives me on every time because I’m like, ‘I’ve proved you wrong three times before, I’ll go and do it a fourth time.’
‘It just drives me on. I’m not going to have someone tell me that I can’t do something because at the end of the day my results have clearly shown that I can. ‘I generally don’t feel like it has to stop - people can say what they like about it and have their ideas on what they think I can do. ‘At the end of the day it’s down to me and I have a British record, so clearly I’m doing something right. ‘I’ve thrown further than anyone else has before at that age and looking the way I look, so maybe there is something to the way I look.'
At the end of the day it’s down to me and I have a British record, so clearly I’m doing something right Serena Vincent