Broadbell wants to turn bronze into gold

PARIS OLYMPICS 110 metres hurdles bronze medallist Rasheed Broadbell is aiming to move further up the podium and take gold at this year’s World Athletics Championships scheduled for Tokyo, Japan in September.

Already getting a taste of international gold after claiming the 2022 Commonwealth Games 110m hurdles title, Broadbell said he would like to capture the top medal again.

“I have goals that I won’t speak about because people would probably think I am crazy, but most definitely I want to be at the top of the podium. I should have been on top of the podium last year given the form and the shape that I was in before the Games,” he said.

At the last World Athletics Championships in Budapest in 2023 Broadbell fell in the heats but that’s behind him and he says his progress so far this season has been good and this should be reflected in his performances.

“Based on my progress in training right now and how my body is feeling, I know it (this season) is going to be super great. Hopefully I don’t pick up anything to hinder me or set me back. I am putting in the work to ensure I have the stability to keep the body going,” the 24-year-old said.

He credited his progress to his new training environment after departing Elite Performance Track Club to return to his former camp, the MVP Track Club.

HEAVILY MOTIVATED

“In the environment that I am at, I am super happy there. So every day when you are going you know it is hard work, (but) being there in that environment it doesn’t feel as hard. I am happy to be doing the hard work – not saying I wasn’t happy before, it is just that now I am feeling heavily motivated to get the season on the way, because I know I am with one of the best in the world,” he said about the Stephen Francis-led camp.

Broadbell said at this point, he feels no pressure to go after what he wants, the World Athletics Championships gold.

“It is never any pressure, the only time I feel pressured is when I know my body is not up to where I want it to be and I have to be able to produce my best performance,” he said with complete confidence.

He said one of the things that keeps him pressure-free is the motivation from his family.

“It is always about being able to take care of my family and whatever it is that they need and to support them, that is my main drive and that is not ever going to change until it is time for me to put up the shoes,” he said.

Broadbell has a personal best of 12.94 seconds over the 110m hurdles while the national record, 12.90, was set in 2017 by Omar McLeod.