Olympic redemption for Azu with bronze reward

Welsh sprinter Jeremiah Azu admits he has experienced redemption after finishing his first Olympic Games in Paris with a bronze medal.

Azu began his programme in Paris with the disappointment of being disqualified from the first round of the 100m individual due to a false start.

Six days later, he celebrated a podium finish after finishing third in the 4x100m relay with fellow Great Britain runners Zharnel Hughes, Louie Hinchliffe and Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake.

Azu, 23, was grateful to have claimed an Olympic medal at his first Games.

“It’s a bit of redemption for how things turned out at the beginning of the championship,” Azu said.

“We all work very hard to achieve these moments. These are the things we have dreamed of since we started racing.

“It’s amazing to be able to walk away with something and achieve this early in my career.

“I feel great to be in this position now. It’s not the way I would have planned things, but I’m on a journey, I’m learning and this is part of the process.

“I would have loved to prove myself individually. I am in the best shape of my life and I am reaching numbers in training that I have never reached before.

“I’ll come back stronger next time and I hope I can do myself justice, both individually and in the relay.”

Mental resilience

Azu, who trains in Italy, had to quickly banish all her demons because she had the task of running the first leg and returning to the blocks for the semi-final and final of the relay.

“I had to put last weekend behind me, I had another chance with the relay and I made sure I didn’t back down,” Azu said.

“The guys trusted me to get back into the blocks and get through the corner and that’s what I did.

“I took the crowd somewhere else. I made myself believe I was in Italy at that moment. It’s just another training session because it’s the same thing.

“Just because there are people around, just because there is the Olympic title, that shouldn’t change anything.

“You should do the same, that’s what I did. I took a deep breath, erased it all and just ran.”

Family affair

Azu was able to demonstrate this mental strength thanks to the support of his family, who helped him recover from the disappointment of the individual elimination.

This included Azu leaving the Olympic village almost immediately after her despair in the individual sprint.

“Immediately after the disqualification I went back to the village, threw my backpack on the ground, picked up another bag and my family picked me up,” Azu told BBC Radio Wales Breakfast.

“They were staying at a campsite outside Paris, so we stayed there for two days, which gave me a bit of a distraction.

“It was important to have my family here. I don’t think I would have been able to go back out on the track without them.”

“They made me forget everything and showed me that they love me, and there was no change in the way they treated me.

“In those moments I was brought back down to earth and filled with love. We are firm in our faith and understand that everything happens for a reason.

“It’s a blessing to be able to take them to these places. These are things that we used to see on television and now they are in Paris watching me.

“It was great to be able to celebrate with them after the race.”

Love for Wales and golden ambition

Azu is the first Welsh Olympic medallist in track and field since Iwan Thomas and Jamie Baulch won silver in the 4x400m relay in Atlanta in 1996.

“I can’t wait to come back to Cardiff. I always tell people it’s the best city in the world,” Azu said.

“I really love it, the people are great and I wouldn’t change it.

“I can’t wait to share this with people. I’m doing this for the people of Wales, when I’m on the court I want them to feel like they’re there with me.

“There is a great nation behind me and I am proud to represent them.”

Azu is now aiming for the top prize in Los Angeles in 2028.

“I would love to have an Olympic gold medal and that would seal a career,” Azu said.

“There is a gold medal every four years and to be someone who has it would be incredible.

“After going through this now, coming back in four years when we’re in Los Angeles will be a much better experience.”