Pre-World Championship Interview: Anna Blyth
March 21, 2007
World Junior Women’s Keirin Champion from Leeds, Anna Blyth, is another athlete that is surprised to be in the 18 travelling to Majorca. Not that she should be because her performances at the Manchester World Cup where she won two medals is proof enough that this young lady is going places and fast! “No, I didn’t think I’d be riding the Senior Worlds so soon. I only started thinking I could make the team after the Manchester World Track Cup to be honest. So I’m really made up. I can’t believe how much I have improved”.
Anna is down to ride the Women’s Sprint, Keirin and 500 metre Time Trial. Trying to pick one where she can medal is difficult because it could be any one of them. At Manchester, she showed well in the Sprint (fourth) and the 500 (bronze) as well as getting a silver in the Team Sprint. Looking back at her 500 TT performance at Manchester, Anna says “that was a big shock. I thought I would do a PB that day, a 35.0 or so, but when I looked up I thought it was the other ladies time and then I saw it was mine.”
So maybe a 500 medal is on offer perhaps but it has to be remembered that the 500 TT clashes with the Women’s Sprint event and should Anna go well in the sprint and be in the semi finals or later, then the 500 ride may well be dropped. Another goal will be the Womens Keirin. In Moscow she made the final and at Manchester the minor final so Anna has proved she has the ability. And after Manchester, Anna is keen to do well saying, “at Manchester, in the semi, I messed up but still had the gas so I just want to make amends for that.”
One event she isn’t selected for is the Team Sprint. Sadly for her, despite riding the fastest time ever for the event with Shanaze Reade, the team are pairing Shanaze with Victoria Pendleton who showed with her near World record ride (500) at Manchester, she has the speed and endurance to perhaps help the GB pairing to win the title for this event.
“Yes, I am disappointed not to get the ride but at the end of the day the team have to field the best riders to try and win the gold so fair play to them for making the tough decisions.”
The young sprinter though has plenty to aim for at Palma and like everyone in Team GB, is focused 110 per cent on being in the best form she can possibly be in for the biggest challenge of her life. So during this week and last, Anna has been busy doing starts, flying sprint efforts and motor chases.
Soon, Friday, Anna with many of the team, will be on her way to the Worlds where because of her busy schedule, she won’t have much down time to fill at the Team Hotel. When she does, Anna explained that she does take DVD’s with her but rarely watches them preferring to just sit round and listen to music or read a book as she rests up between events.”
And one final question: What does a young champion like Anna listen to on her iPod when warming up? “The music I have changes really but right now its Ian Brown and some dance music. I like songs that make me feel good.” Best of luck Anna in Palma!
