After topping the podium in the scratch, point's race and 3000m team pursuit events, the rising Welsh star of track cycling takes time out of the UK School Games to talk about what it takes to be a champion and his goal of competing in the Olympics.
Raise Your Game: A fantastic result today, how do you feel it went?
Owain Doull: It was a really hard race and harder than my race this morning. With the pressure of competing with the best in Britain the whole team ethos is really important, in terms of warming up together, going to meals together and that kind of thing.
Profile
Name:
Owain Doull
Born:
2 May 1993
From:
Cardiff
Events:
Track cycling
Achievements:
- British National Points Race Champion, Newport (2009)
- 2nd - Junior Vuelta, Spain (2009)
- 2nd - Isle of Man International Youth Tour (2009)
- Bronze - British National Scratch Championships, Newport (2009)
- Bronze - British National Pursuit Championships, Newport (2009)
RYG: How did you get involved in cycling?
OD: I'm the only one from my family that cycles. I found that I was getting a bit bored with rugby and football. I wanted to try something different and a sport that no-one else does in my school. So I went down to the local track and it just kicked off from there.
RYG: What skills do you think you can learn from cycling?
OD: Cycling has improved my confidence. You learn about applied mechanics, skills on the bike as well as tactics. I've also got a job in a Sunday bike shop which helps to improve my skills.
RYG: Is it important to set yourself goals?
OD: Goals give you something to work towards and when you achieve your goals you just feel really good about yourself which boosts your morale.
RYG: When you are feeling tired, how do you keep yourself motivated to keep going?
OD: I'm really lucky because I've got a few mates who cycle as well, so there's a bunch of us. If I've had a hard day, I'll go home and look at my medals to give me a bit of a boost.
RYG: How do you deal with nerves?
OD: It just comes with experience. You've just got to keep calm, keep cracking on and just keep racing hard.
RYG: What are your hopes for the future?
OD: My ultimate goal is to go to the Olympics and win. Hopefully I'd like to go to London 2012, but I'm also aiming for the next Olympics in 2016.
RYG: Is cycling a sport that anybody can try?
OD: Yes, definitely. There's so many cycling sports to choose from such as BMX, mountain biking, track cycling, road cycling, cycle-cross. There's so many that you're bound to be good at something.
RYG: And your final tip for anybody looking up to you and wanting to start cycling themselves?
OD: World Champions aren't made on the sofa.
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