MSN Sport interview from work experience this summer

Backley tips Ennis for success in London

Former Olympic athlete Steve Backley has tippes Jessica Ennis to be going for gold in this summer’s Olympic games.

Lee Jarvis spoke to the former Javelin world record holder about the 26-year-old’s chances and the British athletes he tips for success this summer.

With three Olympic medals to his name in three successive Olympics, Steve Backley knows what it takes to succeed at the Games.With the start of London 2012 just 50 days away, Backley feels the hard work will only increase leading up to the start in July.

“You turn up for training in the months preceding an Olympics and there is just that more vigor, a bit more bite about you, a bit more passion and you just get stuck in, You certainly get a bit more desire on them cold winter mornings and it becomes easier in an Olympic year.

“It’s going to be a great tournament, there are lots of medals to defend from Beijing and there is just so much excitement. I’m really looking forward to seeing Jessica Ennis, Mo Farah, Dai Greene, Chris Hoy and the Brownlee brothers (Jonny and Alistair Brownlee).”

On Jessica Ennis, the 43-year-old believes that the Sheffield-born star is in great form and has proved her critics wrong: “Jess lost her [world] title last year and seemed like she was under the cosh”, says Backley. “She’s taken that to heart and clearly trained harder than ever and now she’s in great shape. The stats stand for themselves in terms of her current abilities and where she is physically.

“There is now an added expectation. Clearly she will be expected to win. The world is looking at her and she’s the favorite - whereas prior to when she scored that British record she probably wasn't  I think she’s a mature athlete now; she’s a very stable and very confident performer.”

Ennis has received criticism over her weight recently but Backley feels that the attention she has received has been wrong: “I think it’s very tough when you make an observation about someone’s athletic shape; they mean different things inside athletics to what they do outside athletics but it’s inappropriate to suggest Jessica Ennis is fat full stop, she is heavier than she was but that’s an intentional shift.

“Now she’s a more powerful athlete, her shot, her sprints and javelin will all be better as a result but she may pay a subtle price in the high jump. Multi-eventers have to find out what their physical set is, she has proved without doubt that her physical set-up is absolutely perfect because she’s done a lifetime best , she’s certainly quieted her critics.’

Backley also offered advice to the young British athletes competing in their first Olympics “It’s a really tough thing for athletes to come into a stadium and thrive in their first Games. It’s tough but it’s doable if you walk in there and own that place, if you stand up tall and tell yourself that you are worthy of being there. You need to dominate, be proud, be confident, get into character and believe in yourself, and if you can do all of that which is easier said than done then you can move mountains.”

Steve Backley is launching Cadbury House, a free interactive experience that will be part of the celebrations in Hyde Park during the London 2012 Olympic Games. Cadbury who are Official Treat Providers to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games will be helping the British public to have an even more joyful experience of London 2012.