Sophie Hitchon has unfinished business inside the London Stadium having missed out on the final of the hammer in London 2012.
Hitchon was the surprise medallist of the British athletics team in Rio with an Olympic bronze. But the former ballet dancer wants to prove that was not a one-off and that she can cause another stir in front of her home crowd.
“In London 2012, I wasn’t meant to make the final,” she said. “So, it’s good to come back and have a better crack at it.”
Hitchon, who turned 26 last month, eased into Monday’s final by achieving the qualification mark with one throw with an effort of 73.05m.
And she said she was not taking anything for granted despite the confidence boost of a major medal from a year ago.
“I don’t come in here thinking I’m going to win a medal just because I won a medal last year,” she said. “Everyone knows it doesn’t work like that. It’s about coming and doing the best we can on the day.”
The fact she is competing in the heart of the London Stadium at all is surreal in her eyes, having only picked up the hammer to help her Blackburn club in a competition.
Hitchon has already set her sights beyond London 2017.
“I try not to put too much pressure on myself by saying I must go there and get a medal because I feel like I’m still really young in the sport and ultimately the goal is Tokyo 2020 and this is all building up to that,” she said. “If we get medals in between then great. I think 31 is the peak.”
