Athletics
It’s not uncommon for a child to dream about what they want to do when they grow up. Josh Kerr’s dreams just happened to be more specific than most.
The reigning 1500m world champion, who grew up in Edinburgh, Scotland, has fantasised about winning Olympic gold since he was a young boy.
But not at any Olympics. Kerr’s dreams have always revolved around the 2024 edition of the Games
“I’ve wanted to win these Olympic Games since I was 12 years old,” the 26-year-old said in an exclusive interview with Olympics.com from an altitude training camp in Albuquerque, New Mexico. “I’ve known that for a very long time and I knew it was possible.”
Josh Kerr on the Olympics in Paris: "You just get a feel for the city and it's unbelievable"
The Olympics - and particularly the Paris 2024 Games - have been on Kerr’s mind since he was working tirelessly to break through in a notoriously competitive sport. Back then he used to “fight day and night” for the far-off reward of one day wearing a Great Britain vest in competition.
Now a seasoned performer on the international stage with an Olympic bronze medal in his locker, Kerr has become used to donning his country’s uniform, but that long-held desire to win gold in Paris is still the driving force behind everything he does.
“When Paris was announced, I was like, outside of it being in the UK, having it in Europe is very special, very close to home,” he reminisced. “So having a city that will create the buzz around it like Paris will, you know the energy of that city…
“I haven’t actually raced a bunch in France but I just spent three or four days there over Christmas and you just get a feel for the city and it’s unbelievable. I can’t wait to go out there and feel ready to go.”
"You've seen all the presents under the Christmas tree and you can't touch them"
Part of what makes Kerr such a formidable competitor is that he is a meticulous planner. He visualises and practices for every element of a race so that when he competes he feels that he’s already experienced whatever surprises may be in store for him.
That focus on preparation showed itself in his Christmas trip to Paris, where he got to see the city and the in-construction Olympic stadium.
However, one unexpected side effect of the trip was that, while the Games are still seven months away, he’s now chomping at the bit for the competition to begin.
“The tough part is, it feels a little bit like Christmas Eve where you’ve seen all the presents under the Christmas tree and you know where they are but you can’t touch them yet,” he explained. “So for me, it’s like I know I need to get fit on this day and it takes a long time to get there, but it’s just keeping a cool head and keeping consistent and when the time comes I’ll be ready to go.”
How sacrifice makes Kerr determined to succeed
Kerr is part of a select group of British middle-distance runners, including 2022 world champion Jake Wightman, and Olympic legends Sebastian Coe and Steve Ovett, who became world beaters in their day.
When he speaks, you can feel the pride he feels in representing his nation on the international stage - with the pinnacle being the Olympic Games.
“I keep one rule and that rule is that I won’t wear any of the kit outside of race day,” he told us. “Because I think it is very special… knowing that you’re representing something bigger than yourself, you’re representing your whole country and a way of life, it’s very, very special.”
It is these few and far-between extra special moments that Kerr has committed himself to, even though the day-to-day tasks that can take you to those moments involve real sacrifice.
“It sucks, it really sucks,” he says of being away from loved ones while training in New Mexico.
“I have two nephews growing up in Scotland right now that I don’t get to see very often. My fiancée doesn’t live in this state. I probably see her three or four times a year, and it’s sad.”
But that desire to do everything it takes to make it, everything it takes to fulfil a childhood dream of gold in 2024, has made those tough sacrifices worthwhile and instilled in him a determination that regulates every decision and action he takes in the build-up to the Games.
“That’s the cost of what I’m doing right now,” Kerr explains. “So when it comes to these 50/50s or it comes to these big moments, I’m not scared because maybe I don’t feel that good or maybe I didn’t eat well or whatever. I just don’t care, that’s just not going to hold up to my standard right now.
“I don’t live here for fun. I live here to get results and if I don’t get those results I’m not going to be in this sport.”