‘Support from EAC and Scottish Athletics kept me in sport’ – Josh

Wednesday 6th September 2023

Josh is new Men’s 1500m World Champion after stunning win over Jakob

Josh Kerr came home to the track venue in Scotland he knows best – as his athletics journey turned ‘full circle’.

The Men’s 1500m World Champion brought gold back to his only club to a very special welcome on a night when, for the second time in 12 months, Meadowbank again became ‘Medalbank’.

Josh spent hours signing autographs, posing for photos and answering questions from Edinburgh AC athletes young and old with support from his sponsors, Brooks Running.

Earlier in the day he had returned to his own school in Edinburgh, too.

It was an inspirational evening for all involved at Meadowbank with Jake Wightman having set the template a year ago when he brought back his World Champs 2022 gold from the same Men’s 1500m event.

‘It is lovely to be back here at Meadowbank and see the way the new facility has developed,’ said Josh, who was joined on the evening by his parents, John and Jill.

‘To know that Edinburgh AC has a new home is great after a long four and half years away. That’s been hard for everyone at the club.

‘So I am delighted for everyone and delighted to bring along a gold medal to show to athletes of all ages and stages.

‘It’s all about trying to inspire and bridge that gap between club athletics and competing on a World Champs stage.

‘But it is equally important that people are enjoying their sport and getting the most out of it.

Made in Scotland from girders: how Josh had the bottle to battle Jakob

Josh spoke in his first interview after his Budapest victory about there being 16 years in the sport behind his success. He was asked about how our elite athletes are developed along the way.

‘The pathway in Scotland was so good for my own journey,’ he replied.

‘I came in at eight years of age and started making teams at about U15.

‘But it was never a smooth ride, there are always ups and downs along the way. Bodies develop in different ways when you are all kids and young teenagers.

‘Having support from Edinburgh AC and from Scottish Athletics – with volunteers taking you on buses to the likes of the London Mini Marathon – that’s why and how I stayed in the sport.

‘And that is key part of it all at that stage. Staying in when things get tough is the hard part. I cannot thank EAC and Scottish Athletics enough for helping me with that.

"What do you want to do when you grow up, lads?"
"Well…"
Two 1500m @WorldAthletics Champions right there.@joshk97 @JakeSWightman rocking their junior @EdinburghAC vests & getting a taste for the win@WightmanGeoff @jarrowarrow @MJGold @RealDeniseLewis @JNETTEKWAKYE @GabbyLogan pic.twitter.com/d3qT1927Fh

— scottishathletics (@scotathletics) August 23, 2023

‘It’s a tough sport: training can be hard at times, the weather might not be great. If you don’t stay in the sport, you don’t enjoy the success.

‘Everyone goes through it in the sport, the difficult moments, but just stay on the path if you can.

‘I’ve huge affection for EAC.

‘Every couple of weeks we would be off to the Young Athletes League meetings or races around the UK – be that track or cross country.

‘This was a big family feeling to me. I was really enjoying my running but was also surrounded by like-minded people – talented young athletes and good coaching.’