Last
updated: 12/04/08
Buck
Eyes Olympic Dream
In the second of our ‘Road to Beijing’ interviews Ralph
Shepherd speaks to a former high jump hopeful who could now be representing
Great Britain in the 400 metres this summer.
Richard
Buck is not your average student. He attends lectures only after hours
of training, his drink of choice is a sports drink or water and his
summer holiday this year is not a lad’s trip abroad.
Richard is hoping to achieve a dream by visiting China in August to
compete in the 400m at the Beijing Olympics.
The 21-year old started studying Business Studies and Economics, but
then switched to Sports Coaching, both at Leeds Metropolitan University
where he is now in his second year of the course. He said, “I
switched as I thought the sports coaching degree would be relevant for
my career. That is a long way off at the moment though!”
The Great British International actually came across the 400m discipline
by accident. At his high school in Pickering (North Yorkshire) Richard
was a huge fan of all sports but was keen to compete in the high jump.
A fellow pupil dropped out of the 400m and Richard’s PE teacher
suggested he should fill the space. The rest as they say is history.
Now Richard is trained by his grandfather Geoff Barraclough and is helped
out by a handful of other coaches who work on everything from his body
condition to his technique in competitions. Richard trains 12 times
a week, combining intensive cardio and endurance work with time spent
in the gym, lifting weights and making his muscles stronger.
So how does Richard balance studying, training like a professional athlete
and a student social life?
Richard admits it is a tricky task and sums his life up in one word
- hectic.
But that is how he likes it. He said, “A typical day for me is
up at 7am, down to the track by 8 where I do drills before a lecture
at 9 and then back to training at lunch before my afternoon lecture.
I find it quite funny how some students get annoyed by early starts
at 9, when I’ve already done an hour long training session by
then! I have a completely different life to an average student. I haven’t
been on a proper night out for at least a year and a half. I don’t
mind though because I’ve never been a clubber. To be honest I’m
normally in bed by 10.30pm.”
Richard’s life can get even busier when the weather worsens. He
said, “Being in Yorkshire the weather isn’t great and obviously
I still need to train effectively. I have to travel down to Sheffield
and sometimes my lectures suffer. Most lecturers are quite supportive
though. I find it really hard to do the necessary reading that my course
needs. I can’t even take books around with me when I go abroad
because they weigh too much for the airplane, especially with all my
kit."
Buck has
had an impressive career so far, grabbing a Gold in 2005 after being
part of the winning the 4x400m relay team at the Junior Championships.
This made up for his lowlight the year before where he admits, “I
lost my head and failed to reach the final,” in the 400m at the
World Juniors. Buck’s progress since then has been stellar, enjoying
a milestone year in 2007 in which he represented Britain at the World
Student Games and was part of the British 400m relay team in the World
Championships in Osaka.
The Yorkshire athlete has made a good start to 2008 as well, competing
in the World Indoors in Valencia in March. He ran in a time of 47.54
seconds in the heat but could only finish fifth in the semi-finals which
unfortunately wasn’t quite good enough to reach the final.
“It could have gone better, but I’m not as experienced at
indoors. I’m not too bothered about my performance as I know I
am much better outdoors and I’m looking to prove this in my next
events.”
The Olympic hopeful has competed all over the world. From Hungary to
Bangkok and Osaka, and he believes he can use this experience to his
advantage if he is selected to compete in the summer.
“The British Athletics team are really good. They sort everything
out for everyone. Fortunately for me you’re always with the rest
of the Brits so I don’t have to learn any other languages. I do
know how to complain in a few different languages though!”
Despite the pedigree he has displayed thus far in his career, Richard’s
ticket to China isn’t confirmed just yet. Richard has to compete
in the Olympics trials in July.
But the one-lap specialist is very confident he will be able to finish
top despite tough competition.
“The qualifying time I need to reach in 45.95 and I’m very
confident I can reach it. My personal best is 46.13 but I did manage
44.90 last year in my leg of a relay race. And even then I felt I could
have shaded the time down.”
Richard believes British athletics is on the up. “British athletics
hasn’t had the best of time recently but now I think that the
senior members are stepping up to the plate. The squad is still really
young but I think you’ll see them come through either this summer
or in London 2012.”
Richard admits he really can’t wait for the Olympics to come to
the capital. “It’s going to be brilliant. I’m obviously
really excited. I will be 25 by then so hopefully in even better condition.
However I do know there is a lot of work to be put in. It is a long
way off and I know I can develop my run.
Realistically I can see a medal in the 4x4 in the Olympics (this year)
and I would be delighted to reach a semi-final place in the 400m. That
would be my new highlight and really set me up for London.”
The Leeds Met student is very focussed and extremely dedicated and his
desire to do his country proud at the upcoming Olympics and those in
2012 is clear to see.
