Editor’s Notes: Stuart Weir interviews Josh Kerr on his medal performances and gives us a long insight into this fantastic Scottish runner.
Josh Kerr has told the world he will compete in the kilometer in the London Diamond League and wants to break the 27-year-old world record held by Hicham El Gerouj. Hicham El Gerouj ran 3:43.13 on July 7, 1999, in a spirited race with Noah Ngeni, who ran 3:43.40 that day.
Josh Kerr wants to run 222 seconds (3:42:00). His current best is 3:45.34. Brooks, Josh’s sponsor, and Josh call the experiment #Project222.
Josh Kerr on his world medals
Tokyo Olympics 2021
In the preliminaries, Josh was 7th in 3:36.29, advancing to the semi-finals as the fastest non-automatic qualifier.
people around me so I was pushing all the way to the line. I knew as soon as the photo was written on it that I lost it. I guess I could put it down to nerves, but it just wasn’t my day today. It gives you a really big kick.”
Final 3:th In 3:29.05 (PR), bronze medal
“I was just throwing everything I had, and I said that from the start. I was getting better and that’s the name of the game in this sport at the Olympics and any world championship or major. I went out there to have fun, put a smile on my face and was in the hunt for a medal all day.”
World Championship 2023 Gold 1500m 3:29.38
“It’s been a long time coming. It’s quite an overwhelming experience, but I’m so proud of myself. I was fighting Jacob pretty hard, you could see I was throwing everything I could at this guy. We were both hurt. manner of keeping at that point.”
World Indoors 2024 Gold 3000 m. Glasgow – 7:42.98
“I came in here without a solid plan. I was very overwhelmed. I tried to keep a patient head and I really stepped on it with 400m to go. It wasn’t the cleanest race, but I did it and I’m excited to know that I’m where I can go out and fight for the win. tonight because I knew I had the support of the whole of Scotland and the UK. But I think I used more energy celebrating than I did in the race.”
Olympic Games 2024 Silver 1500 m 3:27.79 (National Record)
“I cannot leave the championship disappointed. I said what my goals were, and it was pretty obvious, but I gave a performance today that I can be very proud of. I ran the fastest and best tactical 1500m of my life, and when you start worrying about what other people make of the results, you’ll never get the color I want. I just want to thank everyone on my team and family who supported me in a position to leave it all out there and that’s what I did today.
“Up to 600 minutes, I felt like I had a lot left and I got pushed out a bit in the last corner. I had to work hard to get past Ingebrigtsen, but there was so much running left at that point and it’s so hard to keep up with everyone in the last 100m. The result is what it is, but I’m very proud of how.”
World Indoors 2026 Gold 3000 m 7:35.56
“This race didn’t go the way I wanted, but racing is about the situations you put yourself in. I have a lot of family here that support me and I owe it to them. I ran passionately for the last 400 meters. The last time I was in a speed suit was a few months ago when I dragged my foot over the line. cracked, an enduring story for me today.”
“When I wear a national vest, no one but me can prove what I can do. It’s hard to wrap your head around it sometimes, but you just have to believe in yourself. I trust my coaching staff and my family. today’s performance shows them that their hard work is not going unnoticed either. I’m going to enjoy this medal. I’ve been at the top of the sport for a long time, but after missing a few opportunities I wanted to, I’m really going to enjoy this gold, it took a lot of work to stand on the podium today.”
Josh KERR, 3000 Meters Men, GBR
Cole Hawker, Men’s 3000m, USA
Yann SCHRUB, Men’s 3000m, FRA
Jacob KROP, 3000 Meters Men, KEN, photo by World Athletics
Hopes for the summer of 2026
2026 is definitely a year where you can go after times just because there are no outdoor world championships, no Olympics or anything like that. So it’s definitely flexibility for everyone. I’m not good at long term planning. I’m fixated on the next race, but once I discuss it with my coaching staff, we’ll come up with something and then I’ll go out and present it and make sure everyone knows my goals and my race schedule.
Since that comment, he has confirmed that he will run the London Diamond as a potential world record attempt.
