15 March 2011

As the countdown clock is unveiled in Trafalgar Square, signalling 500 days until the 2012 London Olympic Games, the tension and excitement mounts for British athletes who can’t wait to compete in Stratford, in a British stadium, in front of British people.  

European and Commonwealth 110m hurdles champion Andy Turner (coach: Lloyd Cowan), who’s rival David Oliver took home the gold medal from Beijing, said: “500 days left, wow, that means I have 500 days to get quicker because it’s all about medals come 2012!”

Kate Dennison (coach: Scott Simpson), British record holder and Commonwealth Pole Vault bronze medallist , added: “I have just ordered my tickets so it’s all a bit real now! I can’t wait for the opportunity of a lifetime.”

Even junior athletes, like World Youth triple jump gold medallist Ben Williams (coach: John Crotty), who have just begun to step up into senior competition recognise the unique opportunity: “It means a lot to me, especially as a junior. I have no idea if I’ll be able to compete there but I am going to do everything I can to try and make it happen. There will be 500 days of hard training now and I’m ready to take on the challenges that I could face along the way.”

British long jump record holder Greg Rutherford (coach: Dan Pfaff) is excited by the prospect: “500 days to go! Hearing something like that makes it that little bit more real and gets the hairs on the back of my neck even more on end. Ever since Great Britain won the bid I’ve had extra adrenaline in every training session and that’s what’s been driving me to train harder and longer. The Olympics is the ultimate stage in sport and building from this year I aim to get a medal there

“Before the Olympics we have a number of Aviva Series events- Aviva Grand Prix, Aviva World Trials and UK Championships, and London Grand Prix- to take us towards the World Championships which is the next big event. It would be great for sports and athletics fans to support athletics now and follow us to the 2012 Olympics.”

For multiple 4x400m relay medallist Conrad Williams (coach: Linford Christie) 2012 can’t come soon enough: “The closer it gets the more excited I get. I wish it was this year, I can’t wait!”

“2011 means a lot to every athlete. It’s a very tough year and it’s the year you want to make the step up which will affect 2012 performances. It helps a lot to race against the people that will be going for medals in 2012 so, for us Brits, South Korea is very important.”

Waking up and realising it is 500 days until the start of the games gave Sprinter Harry Aikines Aryeetey an extra boost for training: “What was seven years is now 500 days, I can’t believe it. I can’t explain my excitement, today is going to be a special training session now I have that in my mind!”

New British 60m hurdles record holder Tiffany Ofili said: "For the next 500 days each and every thought, movement and action will be geared towards achieving my goal, while making history. There is no dream too big and I know the best is yet to come for me."

For Olympic high jump silver medallist Germaine Mason, who plans to return to competition this summer, 500 day to go means: "Honour, teamwork and dreams."

For Aviva Series tickets visit: http://www.uka.org.uk/aviva-series/home/

For 2012 Olympic Games tickets visit: http://www.london2012.com/splash/index.html