Leonard has backing from Kelly Holmes (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Leonard has backing from Kelly Holmes

10:10am Saturday 17th December 2011 in Athletics By Andy Cryer, Blackburn Rovers reporter

WHEN a double Olympic gold medallist puts her faith in your athletic ability it is almost impossible not to start believing.

That is what has happened for Blackburn Harrier’s 800m runner Alison Leonard as despite a disappointing year, with Dame Kelly Holmes behind her, she remains focused on reaching the very top.

London 2012 may yet come too early for the 21-year-old from Clayton-Le-Woods but, with the Olympics in Rio, Brazil, four years later, she isn’t about to give up her dream.

Leonard has been a member of Holmes’ On Camp with Kelly mentoring initiative since 2007, and is adamant the set-up stands her in good stead for the future.

She said: “It includes training weekends and get togethers with the other girls. We train and talk about things like travelling to competitions.

“We also talk financial planning and CVs and stuff like that. We obviously run a lot but we also have education weekends as well.

“But it is also a support thing. This year I was travelling to a race in Spain and when I got the airport I had a missed call and saw I had a voicemail.

“It was Kelly Holmes saying ‘you can run really well. Be confident. Believe in yourself.’ To have someone like her say that is amazing. For her to believe in me is an inspiration and of course increases your own confidence..

“Kelly has achieved everything in the sport and I’ve been able to benefit from her experience and get advice and support from her. She is very hands on.”

Since teaming up with Holmes, the former Runshaw College student won the 800m silver medal at the World Youth championships, gold in the England under 20’s in 2009, gold in last year’s British universities indoor championships and gold in the British universities outdoor 1500m in May this year.

Since then a combination of studying for her Biology degree finals at Birmingham University and a foot injury have slowed down her progress.

But, with Olympic preparations now in full swing, Leonard is ready to give it everything to make a late push for London and beyond.

She said: “I don’t think London 2012 is the ultimate goal. 2016 has to be for me. I am an 800m runner and so will still be quite young next year so I am looking at the Olympics in 2016 as the goal.

“Of course though you can’t ignore 2012. You can’t ignore it is coming and it is really, really exciting. I will give it a go and see what happens.

“It has been a very mixed year and quite frustrating at times this summer. I had my finals at university and that took quite a lot out of me.

“Then I injured my foot and that obviously affected the summer so it has been disappointing really. But I am going into the winter much more optimistic and ready to work hard.

“I have got a part time job, which is supporting me while I train full time, and I am looking forward to what is to come.

“It was hard juggling my studies with competing but I am glad I did my degree. It was all worth it. The degree is quite flexible so you could do your work after training.

“Now I work in the sports scholarships office, doing general admin two days a week while training so it does fit in really well.”