'Inspired' Dwain Chambers has such a mountain to climb

 
Matt Majendie @mattmajendie24 September 2013

Dwain Chambers admits that he is “scared”. And he has every right to be as on Thursday he will swap his spikes for crampons for an ascent of the 16,000ft Mont Blanc, a climb not for the faint hearted.

Just last Friday, a British climber fell 1,000 feet to his death on a mountain pass en route to the summit, highlighting how perilous the task ahead is.

Chambers’s confidence will be aided by the fact he will be attached to one of Britain’s finest climbers, the aptly named Kenton Cool, who boasts 11 successful summits of Mount Everest.

Despite that reassuring presence, the 35-year-old sprinter says: “Track and field is easy in comparison. I’m scared, definitely, as it’s not something I’ve done before. I have no idea what it’ll be like but I have to do it.”

Chambers is raising money in the process for cancer charity Teens Unite after being inspired by hearing one of those helped by the charity.

“In the past, I’ve been fighting for my career [following a drugs ban] but these kids are fighting for their lives, it’s inspiring,” he says.

“But as well as the fundraising, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, a chance to stand on the top of a mountain with views of France, Italy and Switzerland.”

Chambers’s way to unwind post season is in stark contrast to his British team-mates, most of whom have headed to a beach to recover, and he is the first to admit his training partners have asked, “What the hell are you doing?”

But the climb will also be a chance for him to look back on the past year and, in particular, last month’s World Championships in Moscow, of which he has mixed feelings. “I haven’t switched off as I don’t want my body to shut down just yet,” he says. “But I’ll get my chance to reflect and correct some wrongs. I was disappointed with Moscow [where he failed to make the 100m final]. I’ll think about what I could have done better. But it was nice to finally run without distractions as in the past.”

His Moscow hopes were not helped by a back injury, which curtailed his preparations, but he looked to have ended on a high with bronze in the 4x100m relay. However, he was denied a medal after the British line-up were disqualified for a botched changeover.

Chambers’s frustration was such that he punched a wall in anger when the new result was announced.

“To initially win that medal was just amazing after all those disappointments over the years as a team,” he says. “It would have been a nice after my last World Championship medal 14 years ago. Oddly, thinking back to that relay in Moscow brings a smile to my face as we got the baton round, finally.

“But sadly it wasn’t to be. I hit a wall — it wasn’t a good time during that period. It shows I care, particularly because I know at my age that these opportunities are getting fewer.”

Chambers, though, has no plans to retire just yet and looks to the example of Kim Collins, a sprinter still mixing it at elite level despite being two years older, for reasons to carry on.

Looking ahead to next season’s Commonwealth Games and European Championships, Chambers adds: “I want to put myself on the map again, I want to win everything.”

However, Chambers has super-fast Brits James Dasaolu and Adam Gemili nipping at his heels. “James has finally found a way to stay healthy,” says Chambers. “And I expect Adam to go under 10secs for the 100m as well. It’s a good rivalry that keeps pushing me on.”

For now, it is a rivalry on ice, similar to the terrain under foot for Chambers in the coming days.

To sponsor Dwain Chambers click here.

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