We’re talking to a far-flung athlete who hasn’t had the typical route to represent Great Britain.
Michael Clarke summed up his European Cross Country debut last month as “bittersweet”. Losing just over a minute in the under-20 race could have ended his day, but instead the 17-year-old battled throughout to finish 18th against a largely older field. Despite being in obvious discomfort and running with a torn leg, his efforts helped the British team secure a silver medal.
It was a fitting way to close out a 2025 season full of highlights. Clarke won the English Schools 3000m, represented Great Britain and Northern Ireland at the European Under-20 Championships and won the European Cross trials in Liverpool. None of that seemed likely three years ago, when he was still living in Hong Kong before moving to the UK.
Born in Japan to a British mother and Australian father, his path to athletics was far from typical. Having spent most of his life in boarding schools (he still attends boarding schools), Clark’s experience has been very different from many of his teammates. But with greater independence expected once she leaves school, her trajectory suggests her best performances are yet to come.
How did you get into athletics?
I actually started with triathlons. I didn’t live in England until I was 14, I lived in Hong Kong so I’m still very new to England and how it works, but as a young kid I was always the fastest in school so my mum decided to put me in a fun little 5km hill race. I was six at the time and I ended up winning a race that the adults were in, so that’s when my mom realized I had a bit of talent and she should probably help me unlock it.
He put me in a small triathlon group and then, from the age of eight to 14, I coached triathlon and ended up representing Hong Kong regionally, which I was really proud of at the time. When we finally decided to move to England, I decided that I would just stick to my top three subjects, which were running.
I did parkrun and over time I just left and went to under 18 without being in a running group. I ended up winning the county champs and still wasn’t at the club. Then David Pring scouted me at Norwich Athletics Club (CONAC) and he started to incorporate proper training. A little over four months later, I ran the British under-15 record for 5km and that’s when it all started.
What is boarding like for a talented athlete your age?
When I compare it to someone who could be at home, it is very bad. I’m really lucky that my school is quite lenient and they give me all the support I need. They allow me to go off campus to train with my CONAC group in the city.
But when it comes to things like food, nutrition, it’s very limited because it’s about what the school offers. Sleep is also affected, obviously everyone has to get up for school, but for me I have to get up and eat breakfast at school, which takes a bit more time. It’s hard but I’m doing it, the school gives me the best support they can and I’m very grateful for that.
What was your mentality at Liverpool?
I knew it was going to be very difficult, but at the same time I knew I had the fitness and the mindset. I was ready for the battle and the race. I knew from the start that Will Rabjohns was going to be a tough guy to beat, but I always look at my previous achievements before I go into a race and think, ‘What’s the point?’ “I represented Great Britain, why can’t I win this race?”
I knew I was in great shape from my last season. Obviously I had to work really hard to beat Rabjohns, but I had a sneaky feeling I knew I was going to win.
What did it mean to you to represent Britain at the crossroads?
The fact that it’s a crossover made me a lot more proud of myself as I got beaten by the likes of Alex Lennon last season, so getting another GB jacket is really good.
Why do you like longer distances on the track?
For most people, they think long distances on the track are more tiring and boring, but I think the fact that you can be on the track for longer periods of time is why I like it the most. Obviously it’s just based on overall fitness and my fitness is more aerobic than speed.
I’ve always loved the 5000m, it’s how I got started in parkrun in the first place. However, I wouldn’t want to go up to 10,000m, especially on a track. Even for me it is too much. 25 laps on the track is not much fun for me.
Who are you looking at?
Jacob Ingebrigtsen. She knows what she is doing and is very determined. He knows he’s the best and talks like he’s the best. In his interviews, he’s somewhere between being confident and a little cocky, but that’s what I think the sport needs.
You have to say how dominant you are in your field and Jacob can say whatever he wants and then he comes out and backs himself up too.
What do you think you learned from athletics?
Everyone says have fun, but at the same time, you have to have fun and perform to the best of your ability. I’m the type of person who would just freak out and break down if it got to me. But when I run, I remind myself of who I am, what I’ve done, and what I can do, and that helps me stay focused and calm before the race.
Documents
The age. 17:00
clubNorwich and
TrainerDavid Pring
Events3000 m/5000 m
PBs8:09.43/14:08.97
Michael Clarke competes for Britain in the under-20 race at the World Cross Country Champs in Tallahassee on January 10.
