Walcott chases elusive world medal
Two-time Olympic men’s javelin medallist, Keshorn Walcott is fixated on capturing his first IAAF World Athletics Championships podium finish.
He will feature, for the sixth time, at the Aug. 19-27 tourney in Budapest, Hungary and remains in hot pursuit of the elusive medal.
Despite launching to gold at the just concluded Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games in El Salvador and notching several podium performances on the European circuit this year, Walcott remains in the hint for precious Worlds honours.
He’s had mixed results at the past five editions, with his best showing coming in 2017.
“I don’t know why it’s been eluding me. Maybe I want it too much. But it’s still my main objective and it’s all that I think about now in the sport, getting a World medal.”
“I’m still working towards it and I think once things go as planned, we should have a good chance this year,” he said.
Over the past few months, Walcott has been working alongside longtime coach, Ismael Lopez Mastrapa, Canadian-based chiropractor Dr. Alban Merepeza and US-based sport and exercise psychologist Dr Margaret Ottley to improve his physical and mental strengths.
His best distance for 2023, so far, was an 85.85m attempt achieved in a silver medal showing at the Korstanje Games in Finland, recently. But Walcott wants and believes he needs to add a couple metres to that result if he is to seal the precious World medal.
“I’m trying my same method I did in 2017 when I placed my best, in London. I completed right right up to the Worlds, instead of taking time off. I’m going to try to do the same. It doesn’t matter the standard of the competition, it’s just to have competition.”
Walcott’s personal best is a hefty 90.16m, achieved in 2015. However, he is never hot off the 90-mark since. But, he continues to push.
“My consistency has been good this season but for me, it’s been an average season so far, to be honest. Not the best of performances, but I’m okay with that because I’ve decided to try something different this year for my worlds preparations. I am still loading now, with high training.”
Fast forward to the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, Walcott hinted that it may be his final stint at the Summer Games. However, he believes he is in good shape and did not confirm or deny that next year’s edition would be his last.
Walcott credited his team of Mastrapa, Alban and Ottley for their dedication to his athletic growth. He also highlighted the efforts of the Trinidad & Tobago Olympic Committee, which he said, played a crucial role in ensuring he attended camps and remained healthy.
After his CAC performance, Walcott is now taking a couple of days off before he resumes training ahead of national events.
