Hitchon wants to build on Rio medal to inspire next generation

There was no more unexpected British medal at the Rio Olympics last year than Sophie Hitchon’s hammer bronze.

It was not as though Hitchon headed to Brazil without a chance. After all, she had claimed the world junior title in 2010 and was a fivetime British champion. It was just that Britain and hammer do not really go together. In an event dominated by Eastern European countries, Britain’s sole medallist at an Olympics or World Championships was Malcolm Nokes, in 1924.

So, when Hitchon threw a British record 74.54metres with her final effort to claim bronze, it was something of a surprise to say the least.

If she has her way, the wait will not be so long for a successor. “After the Olympics, I did a lot of things going into schools,” she says. “Kids were really interested and it was great to see that. I’ve done more media, which is great, and it’s nice to hear from people, especially

Under the radar: Sophie Hitchon is ranked 10th in the world after an up-and-down year

young girls, who say, ‘I’d like to try hammer when I get older.’

Hitchon, 26, however, was not to be found gracing TV screens on the celebrity circuit this winter.

“There weren’t any offers that I heard of,” she says, with a sheepish laugh. “I think as a junior I learned that things wouldn’t change. After winning the World Juniors I thought things were going to be rainbows and roses from now on, but it never is, is it?

“The Olympic medal is amazing and I’m really proud of it, but it’s always on to the next thing.”

Hitchon admits it has been an “up-and-down” post-olympic year, and she sits 10th in global rankings. With hammer qualification this morning, she maintains that a medal here would be a bonus and the Tokyo Olympics remain the main goal, when she wants to challenge Poland’s Olympic and world champion Anita Wlodarczyk.