Perri Shakes-Drayton’s over hurdle now
PERRI Shakes-Drayton has broken her vow and visited the Olympic Stadium.
It did not take long – she can see the arena from where she lives in East London – but it was a significant trip.
Shakes-Drayton, 23, the European 400metres hurdles bronze medallist, is one of Britain’s big hopes at this summer’s Olympic Games and did not want to become too wound up by making the small trip along the road. But that has now all changed.
“I thought it was important to familiarise myself,” Shakes-Drayton said, at an Aviva-sponsored training camp with British athletes in Los Angeles.
“We had a tour and a little session. It’s massive in there. I haven’t got to imagine it any more, I know what it’s like. I was like, ‘Whoa’. The next time I go in there it won’t be a surprise to me.
“But it was bigger than I imagined, with the long jump pit and the distance from there to the fans being a big gap – not like the stadium at Crystal Palace.
I haven’t got to imagine it any more, I know what it’s like. I was like, ‘Whoa’. The next time I go in there it won’t be a surprise to me.
“Did I imagine what it would be like in the final straight in the Olympic final? I’d run a bit faster.”
