‘Scotland vests as a teenager helped forge my career’ – Josh Kerr

Wednesday 15th June 2022

Josh celebrates Olympic medal success (photo by Sam Mellish)

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Josh Kerr can’t wait to represent Team Scotland at the Commonwealth Games in front of his extended family and friends in Birmingham.

And the Olympic silver medallist is convinced winning Scotland vests as a teenager at events like the London Mini Marathon and the Celtic Nations XC was the perfect apprenticeship for the career he is now savouring.

Josh will return to Britain from America at the end of next week for the British Champs as he eyes the Worlds in Eugene but he spoke to us recently about his Team Scotland ambitions.

‘It has been a while since I raced in a Scotland vest at events like the London Mini Marathon and Celtic Nations cross country events,’ he recalled.

‘That was back in my mid-teens so it is a while ago now. But the experiences of those events has helped put me where I am now.

‘I went into those trying to learn from it and they were major events for me at that time. I didn’t always win or make the podium. It was about testing yourself out and seeing if you could be competitive.

‘The approach is the same now for major championships at global, Commonwealth or European level.’

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Josh spoke to us at the Alexander Stadium when he raced in the Diamond League meet.

‘I think the atmosphere will be electric come the Games in the Alexander Stadium with a packed crowd, Scottish and British supporters and that blue track. I am really looking forward to it.

‘The Kerr family will be out in force, that is for sure!

‘My brother, my mum and dad, nephew, wider family and friends will all be there and that’s a little bit different for me after being in the States and Covid travel issues.’

Welcome home! Josh back at Edinburgh AC

Josh memorably returned to his Edinburgh AC roots last September on a short visit back to Scotland after the Olympics. The precious cargo from Japan included that superb 1500m bronze medal.

He’s dearly love to pencil in another trip back to his club . . .

‘The goal is always to progress each year and I was delighted last year to bring that Olympic medal back to Edinburgh AC to show my former coaches, volunteers and young athletes and hopefully inspire them,’ he smiled.

‘I feel I pushed my times on again indoors last winter so I want to try and bring another medal back to Edinburgh.’

Josh with first coach Eric Fisher when he returned to Edinburgh AC with his Olympic medal (photo bv Gary Leek)

Scotland U17 men at the London Mini Marathon in 2014 (photo via the Road Running and Cross Country Commission website archive)

Tags: Birmingham 2022, Commonwealth Games, Josh Kerr, London Mini Marathon, Team Scotland

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