Akabusi backs Haydock-Wilson’s energy and mindset which might make him a hurdles nice, writes Henry Durand
Kriss Akabusi believes 400m runner Alex Haydock-Wilson has the most effective likelihood of breaking his British report—if he decides to change to the hurdles.
Akabusi, 66, has held the report for 33 years, however has tipped Haydock-Wilson because the more than likely successor.
The 25-year-old is presently ranked as GB’s third greatest quarter miler, and lately gained two bronze medals on the Paris Video games within the males’s and blended 4x400m relays.
However three-time Olympic medallist Akabusi mentioned a swap to the hurdles might propel him to the higher echelons of the game.
“He’s not blessed with sheer velocity, however he’s acquired energy, he’s acquired aggression, I want to see him change,” he mentioned.
“It’s acquired to be somebody like him, that type of construct, that type of energy, that type of willpower, who lastly accepts you’re a 400m hurdler.”
Kriss Akabusi beats Antonio Pettigrew to the road (Mark Shearman)
Akabusi made the swap to the hurdles in 1987, and ran his report time of 47.82 within the Barcelona Olympics 5 years later.
He mentioned: “I used to be operating 40.5, I wasn’t adequate on the flat 400 due to Roger Black and Derek Redmond. I modified to the hurdles and broke the British report.
“It’s exhausting, you’ve spent 10 years calling your self 1 / 4 miler, it’s fairly romantic. However he’s by no means going to beat Charlie Dobson or Matthew Hudson Smith – you’ve acquired to simply accept that.”
Regardless of success within the relays and a person bronze medal within the 2022 European Championships, Akabusi warned the Brit that the swap is not going to be straightforward.
He mentioned: “The hurdles as an occasion are brutal, painful, the hurdles deal with you while you’re knackered, they make you look silly in entrance of everybody while you fall on the bottom, you’ve acquired to take all of that and say nonetheless I rise.”
Kriss Akabusi and Frank Dick (Mark Shearman)
Since retiring, Akabusi has taken half in an array of charitable work, most lately launching a course for kids in care aiming to lift their aspirations, ambition and employability.
The Mackenzie undertaking, named after the military sergeant who impressed him to get into athletics, has been operating for 4 years in partnership with Norfolk County Council.
He mentioned: “I used to be in youngster care, I joined the military after I was 16 as a result of I had nowhere else to go, and the streets had been calling me, and I simply knew I wasn’t going to have the ability to take care of myself.
“Sergeant Mackenzie realised I had some potential, and due to his work with me, 5 years later I used to be an Olympic silver medallist.
“It’s necessary for younger individuals to know the previous is for reference, not for residence.”
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