British champion Jess Mayho looking beyond Tokyo Olympics to Birmingham 2022

For an athlete, an Olympic Games is generally the be all and end all, but for two-time British hammer champion Jess Mayho, it is 2022 she when hopes to reach her peak.
By Nick Westby
Published 10th Sep 2020, 06:00 BST
Jess Mayho: Celebrates winning the British hammer throw title for a second time. (Picture: British Athletics via Getty Images)Jess Mayho: Celebrates winning the British hammer throw title for a second time. (Picture: British Athletics via Getty Images)
Jess Mayho: Celebrates winning the British hammer throw title for a second time. (Picture: British Athletics via Getty Images)

The 27-year-old – who retained her British title in Manchester at the weekend with a season’s best of 65m47 – is looking beyond next summer’s rearranged Tokyo Olympics to a bumper year 12 months later. The Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, world championships and European Championships all take place in 2022.

“It would be incredible to be at Tokyo, but 2022 is the year I want to peak for, there are so many big championships,” said Leeds-based Mayho, who will begin winter training later this month.

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“The aim is to come out next year and be in the best form I can be in. Tokyo is the dangling carrot but I’m not going to be consumed by that. There will be other stuff to focus on.

Jessica Mayho of Great Britain takes part in the Women's Hammer Throw during day one of Muller British Athletics Championships at Manchester Regional Arena on September 04. (Picture: British Athletics via Getty Images)Jessica Mayho of Great Britain takes part in the Women's Hammer Throw during day one of Muller British Athletics Championships at Manchester Regional Arena on September 04. (Picture: British Athletics via Getty Images)
Jessica Mayho of Great Britain takes part in the Women's Hammer Throw during day one of Muller British Athletics Championships at Manchester Regional Arena on September 04. (Picture: British Athletics via Getty Images)

“It’s an exciting couple of years with the three major championships the following year.”

To reach any of those championships she needs help. Mayho has never benefitted from UK Sport’s Olympic funding programme, while Sophie Hitchon – the Rio bronze medallist – is funded and favourite to qualify for Tokyo.

Mayho is reliant on local sponsorship and is looking to widen her pool of private backers to help her bridge the gap to Hitchon and qualify for the major teams.

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“I’m looking for the security that private funding gives you,” said Mayho, who threw a metre shy of her personal best of 66m44 in Manchester.

Yorkshire's Jessica Mayho of Great Britain takes part in the Women's Hammer Throw during day one of Muller British Athletics Championships at Manchester Regional Arena on September 04, 2020 in Manchester, England. (Picture: British Athletics via Getty Images)Yorkshire's Jessica Mayho of Great Britain takes part in the Women's Hammer Throw during day one of Muller British Athletics Championships at Manchester Regional Arena on September 04, 2020 in Manchester, England. (Picture: British Athletics via Getty Images)
Yorkshire's Jessica Mayho of Great Britain takes part in the Women's Hammer Throw during day one of Muller British Athletics Championships at Manchester Regional Arena on September 04, 2020 in Manchester, England. (Picture: British Athletics via Getty Images)

“There’s so much background stuff like nutrition, medical, massage etc, that gets me into the circle. I’ve got a lot of technical stuff to focus on and the encouraging thing is I’ve so much room for improvement. I was happy to retain my British title but it’s a little bittersweet because I know I’m capable of throwing further.

“I need to concentrate on getting things right in the circle and things should follow from there.”

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Thank you

James Mitchinson

Related topics:BirminghamManchesterSophie HitchonLeeds

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