Jamie Baulch: a
young man in a hurry
February
27 1997
 MONACO - Monte Carlo - One of the
stars of the World Indoor Championships in Paris
on March 7-9 will be Jamie Baulch. The 23
year-old was an Olympic silver medalist in
Atlanta as part of Great Britain’s 4x400m
team but really made his breakthrough this winter
with a series of excellent performances indoors
at 400m. His best run, 45.39 in Birmingham on
February 9, made him the fourth fastest in
history and set him up as favourite for Paris.
Baulch, who was adopted and brought up in South
Wales, is currently being coached by 110m world
record holder Colin Jackson and by former Olympic
and World 100m champion Linford Christie. The aim
of this interview is to provide some interesting
background material on this talented newcomer to
the world stage.
How did you
become involved in athletics?
When I was about 9 or 10 years-old one of my
teachers in junior school noticed that I was
always winning school competitions and suggested
that I the join the local athletics club. It just
went on from there.
Is there
somebody who inspired you, a mentor or another
athlete?
I suppose it would be that teacher who is my
mentor in the sense that he was responsible for
getting me there in the first place, of showing
me the ropes.
What is Linford
Christie to you; is he also an inspiration?
Yes, definitely, although my real inspiration
comes from Carl Lewis. I used to watch him in the
Olympics when he was running at his best, winning
all those gold medals and I thought: Wow,
I’d love to be winning like that and getting
all those medals. In the beginning it was Carl,
but as I got better and got to know all the
British guys, Linford and Colin Jackson and the
others, they became my inspiration. They have
become my coaches and I’m very lucky to be a
part of their group.
What pushes you
to succeed? Where does the drive to win come
from?
I am a very competitive person and have
always been in everything I do. By training over
the last few years with Linford and Colin, I got
to see so much, to learn so much more and to
realise what I could achieve. That pushed me to
try and get to the top and see what I could do.
What are your
plans for 1997?
To be the best I can be, to make the British
team at 400m for the World Championships in
Athens. That is my main aim, to run faster than
last year. I will be definitely be at the World
Indoors in Paris. I may not necessarily win the
gold medal although that would be nice. If I can
do really well there I will be very happy. As
Michael Johnson isn’t running you never know
what could happen. My main ambition is to go out
and do my best, because I really do love
athletics.
What would be
the greatest achievement of your athletics
career?
The same as everyone else I think - Olympic
gold - and to always do my best. I believe that
if I try as hard as I can I will succeed and get
good results.
Describe your
routine, a day in your life -
During the winter season?
Over the last couple of years, I have been
training in Australia with Linford (Christie -
100m Olympic gold medallist in 1992, World
Champion in 1993), Colin (Jackson - 110m hurdles
world record holder and World Champion in 1993),
Frankie (Fredericks - silver medallist at 100m
and 200m at the 1996 Olympics) and others: some
really good athletes. A day in my life would be
to get up in the morning, go training, and then
do whatever I need to do like shopping etc. A
usual day would be doing track runs like 300s,
200s and 100s. Afterwards I would go home or, if
was in Australia I might go out. I am not really
a party animal. I don’t like to go out all
night but I do like to socialise and meet people.
I am a happy, sociable sort of person. Australia
is a great place: the weather and the people are
wonderful. I guess I must be very lucky.
During the
summer season?
Most of the time is spent competing all round
Europe, racing for Britain, doing the Grand Prix
circuit.
Do you enjoy
training?
Yes I do. I’ve had it fairly easy
compared to last year when I thought I was going
to die at times. This year I’ve got used to
the training more. Training with Linford and
Colin has changed everything. Before I met up
with them I was training twice a week. Since
early 1995 I have been a part of Colin’s
training group and he has been coaching me, but
this winter my training has changed as Linford
has become my coach. Compared to Colin, Linford
gives me sessions that are a lot easier. It is
still intense but not quite as hard, and I have
enjoyed it more - it’s been easier because I
haven’t literally been sick after training!
It is tough but I enjoy it.
What would you
say are the advantages of an athletics career?
You get to travel all around the world, to
see a lot of people. It is like one big extended
family. Everywhere you compete you see the same
people again. I enjoy the travelling and I enjoy
the company I am with. I think that’s what
it’s is all about at the end of the day -
enjoying yourself! I remember reading books on
athletes when I was younger which said what fun
the sport was and now I understand what they
meant.
And the
downsides?
Leaving friends and family at home. I have a
girlfriend and a 20 month-old baby boy who do
come sometimes to watch me compete. The downside
is being away from them so much. But when the
running is going well and family and friends are
very supportive, as mine certainly are, and come
and cheer me on it is OK. I feel really good when
I come home and I’ve done really well. They
will be all be coming to Paris to watch me so
that will be great.
What would you
be doing if you were not an athlete?
Maybe I would be in another sport. I used to
do a lot of trampoline when I was young, when I
was about 15, and I even carried on through
college. I used to play all sports. I played
football and rugby but athletics was always my
main thing.
Outside sport,
after college I worked in my father’s office
for two years. He is an architect. I’m very
keen on that sort of work. When I worked with my
father I was put straight on the drawing board
and did all sorts of things. There is a house
built very near to where I live which is the only
thing I designed and every time I go past I feel
very proud to see it there. I was thrown in the
deep end working with my father and I did enjoy
it . But I’m not sure if working 9 to 5 in
an office job is for me. I think I would probably
enjoy doing commentary or television work. I am
interested in that sort of thing.
What is your
favourite movie/music?
Action films probably. The Terminator is one of
my favourites.
I like a lot of swing and rap music. I used to
like Prince a lot but now I listen mostly to
swing bands and rap but no-one in particular.
Do you have a
hero outside of sport?
It would have to be my manager, Sue Barrett,
from Nuff Respect. Only recently I have realised
how hard her job is, and how hard she works for
Linford, Colin and myself. She does all sorts of
things, arranging events and contracts etc. I
really admire her.
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