Athletes

Jeanette Kwakye is Britain’s brightest female sprinting hope for more than two decades.

Born to Ghanaian parents, Kwakye – which means ‘raven’ – landed her first national title at the 1997 English Schools’ Championships.

She continued to feature as one of Britain’s top young sprinters before making a big advance in 2002. Using her blistering start to maximum effect, she won the AAA Indoor Under-20 60m gold medal and later featured in the Great Britain team that struck 4x100m bronze at the IAAF World Junior Championships in Kingston; she also reached the 100m semi-finals in Jamaica.

She moved from her native London in autumn 2002 to study politics and economics at Loughborough University, and the following summer landed gold in the AAA Under-23 Championships.

In 2004 she retained her British Under-23 title and recorded a 100m PB of 10.44. In 2005 she made progress over 60m, running a new PB of 7.22 in Stuttgart and also landing the AAA National Senior 60m crown. She then won the 100m/200m double at the AAA Under-23 Championships, but thereafter struggled to find consistency due to a hamstring problem.

Now living back in Chingford, her 2007 season started positively with a 60m PB – 7.17 – in the semi-final of the European Indoor Championships in Birmingham and a fourth-place finish in the final. Outdoors, she landed the national 100m title and set a new PB: 11.26.

Coached by Michael Afilaka, Kwakye stepped up to world class in 2008. Having given up her part-time job as a sales administrator in order to concentrate on athletics, she burst to the fore at the World Indoor Championships in Valencia. She matched Bev Kinch’s 21-year-old national 60m record – 7.13 – before obliterating the mark with a stunning 7.08 in the final to pick up the silver medal – 0.02 behind Angela Williams of the USA. 

Her outdoor campaign also proved a big success. She retained her UK 100m title and then enjoyed a breakthrough Olympic Games by posting a new personal best of 11.14 to finish sixth in the final at the Bird's Nest Stadium. Much will be expected of her at the 2009 IAAF World Championships in Berlin.  

Jeanette’s brother, Louis, is also an athlete. He ran 10.8 in his first 100m.

Interview

Q When did you first discover you were fast?

A I was the fastest girl in the school and a guy called Daniel Allen was the fastest boy. I was unbeaten until one playtime he beat me by about a hundredth. I cried. I was aged about seven or eight!

Q Where do you get your talent from, mum or dad?

A They argue about that. I’ve reason to believe it was my mum because my dad just likes to boast. But they were both athletic so I assume it is from both of them. My dad played football at school and my mum loved hockey.

Q Your brother Louis also sprints. Who was faster when you were younger?

A We never raced when we were little. He just chased girls. He is four-and-a-half years younger than me. He is super-talented, though, and can run 10.8sec for the 100m.

Q Injuries marred your development as a young athlete. How have you managed to overcome them?

A A lot of faith and a lot of hard work with my coach Michael Afilaka. Now we’ve achieved that goal my aim is to stay injury-free, especially in Olympic year.

Q What role has Michael played in your development and what are his strengths?

A I’ve never come across someone as good as he is in terms of technique. He’s also a wonderful motivator and his self-belief is incredible. If he tells me I can run a world record, I can run a world record. If he says I can run a certain time, I run a certain time.

Q Did winning a silver medal at the 2008 World Indoor Championships exceed your expectations?

A A little bit. I had the feeling I could go out there and break the British record. I also had the feeling I could go out there and make the final. And anything can happen when you’re in a final. An opportunity came along and I just went for it. I was so close to gold. It’s something I can build on.

Q How much faster do you think you can run the 100m?

A I don’t like to set limits. As soon as you open your mouth and mention a time you are restricting yourself. I just go out there and do the best I can.

Q Why do you think British women sprinters have not enjoyed the same level of success as the men?

A I don’t know. But the girls are stepping up now. There is an all-round belief that we, as British women, can go out there and break a national record [the 4x100m relay] that’s over 20 years old. Once that bar has been raised everyone else will follow. I look forward to the next few years for British women sprinters.

Q What do you think about when you are on the start line?

A I think about my first two steps, my knee-lift and my arms.