The 16-year-old British middle-distance runner impressed with gold in Slovakia this summer, but she will be keen to make her mark at the Olympics.
While the world’s best athletes celebrated their success at the Paris Olympics, Laila Belshaw was celebrating her own victory after dominating the European Under-18 Championships in Slovakia.
The 16-year-old ran a championship record 4:13.01 in the 1500m to win gold thanks to a powerful kick in the 100m final, with team-mate Isla McGowan completing a British one-two with silver. This adds to Belshaw’s growing list of achievements, which include winning the 2023 Mini London Marathon and earning 1500m bronze at the Commonwealth Youth Games later that year.
Her 1500m PB of 4:12.19 in May puts her first in the UK Under-17 rankings for this year (and she’s also run 2:02.93 for the 800m), but the Colchester Harriers athlete doesn’t just rock on the track, she works great in the pool too. What sets him apart is his unique training regimen, as he spends more time swimming than running.
Inspired by watching her friend Phoebe Gill, 17, compete in the Olympic 800m semi-finals, Belshaw aims to make it to Los Angeles in 2028.
Laila Belshaw and Isla McGowan follow Vilma Bekemoen Torbjörnsson (Getty)
How did you first get into athletics?
I started running in my elementary school and ran several cross country races. I did a national ISA (Independent Schools Association) competition and after that I decided I wanted to start doing it properly when I was in sixth year. I joined a club, Colchester Harriers, where I am now, and I’ve taken it from there.
I was definitely always better at longer events in elementary school than sprints, so I knew I always wanted to do longer things. I always thought I would move up in distance, but in the end I stuck to the 800m and 1500m because I prefer it so much.
How did you feel in the European U18 Championship final?
We got off the starting line three times and usually it would shock me. But that calmed me down as I had some time to think about the race, the worst part was that I was getting really hot.
When we started, I wasn’t in the best position in the first lap. I’ve messed up in races before, losing good position and wasting energy trying to run back, but this time I stayed calm and slowly worked my way back to where I wanted to be. We definitely picked it up in the last lap and I stayed behind the leader until 100m because I knew I had a good last 100m in me, which I hadn’t done before.
Laila Belshaw (Paul Forrest)
How significant was that win for you?
I definitely wanted to win, and I sat down with my coach and told him that was my goal. But anything could happen that day and the Norwegian girl (Wilma Bekkemoen Torbiornss) was ranked faster than me on paper. I knew I wanted to give it my best and I was unreal when I crossed the line. It was really nice to share the podium with Isla as well. I was really proud of both of us and it made all the hard work worth it.
What does an average training week look like for you?
I swim a lot and swim at the club three or four times a week. A few years ago I was mostly swimming and doing one or two runs a week, but now it’s more like two or three runs a week.
I find that swimming is really good for not putting pressure on the joints and the workouts are challenging; it’s definitely not easy swimming. At the moment I use it instead of long runs and I really enjoy it.
READ MORE. Gold rush for British Euro U18 champions
I usually swim on Monday evenings and run on the track on Tuesdays. I swim every Wednesday morning at 5:30, then spend Thursday evening at the track and return to swimming Friday morning with some strength and conditioning. On weekends I usually rest one day and swim the next.
Laila Belshaw wins Mini London Marathon (LM Events)
What moments from Paris 2024 inspired you?
Definitely Kiley Hodgkinson 800 m. It was really great to watch the middle distance runner get a gold medal for Great Britain. I also watched the women’s 1500m and it was really great to see Georgia Bell, even though she wasn’t one of the fastest in the race. I really struggled with having enough confidence to just go for it like he did, so it was really inspiring.
Do you prefer 800m or 1500m?
At the moment I prefer the 1500m, but I also really like the 800m. I like to go really fast and finish fast. However, I’m generally not a fan of anything longer than 1500m. I hate cross country so much, maybe I’ll do one or two this year, but if I don’t like them, I’m not going to either, so I’d rather stick to the 1500m and 800m.
What are the next steps for you?
In the long run, going to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics would be really cool, but I’ll just have to wait and see. Watching Keely in Paris and my friend Phoebe seems a lot more possible than it has been for a while. I met Phoebe last year at the Youth Commonwealth Games and it was great to see her doing really well in Paris.
What is your message to junior Laila?
At first I was nervous enough to remind myself that I could do it, there was always going to be a bigger race.
» This article first appeared in the September issue of AW magazine. Subscribe to AW Magazine herecheck out our new podcast! here or subscribe to our digital archive of back issues from 1945 to the present day here
The post Laila Belshaw, the European under-18 1500m champion, has her eye on Los Angeles in 2028. appeared first AW:.
