Former ballerina Hitchon is giving her sport a new image

[divingbrit]

When hammer thrower Sophie Hitchon steps into the circle in front of 80,000 people at the Olympic Stadium this summer and hurls a four kilogram metal ball through the air, a childhood spent ballet dancing will be paying dividends in the most unlikely of environments.

'On the face of it, being a ballerina and a hammer thrower couldn't be further removed from each other,' said Hitchon, who at 20 has thrown the hammer further than any British woman in history.

'But ballet has really helped me get to where I am with the hammer now. The stage performances gave me a lot of confidence in front of an audience and I'm sure that helps me not to be daunted by competing in the hammer with big crowds watching.

'Although the technique is not the same, the co-ordination is, and it helps stability and agility. 'Ballet also taught me discipline because you've got to have your hair right and all your uniform on or you're booted out of class to sort yourself out.'

Hitchon began ballet when she was two. For 13 years, alongside turning out as a sprinter, she worked her way through the grades, punctuated by showcase performances at the Mechanics Theatre in her home town of Burnley.

Ballet was encouraged by her mother, Wendy, who signed her up for lessons at nursery school. But four years ago, Hitchon stumbled on hammer throwing by accident.

'Pendle Athletics Club was my first team and in league competitions you get points at each event,' said Hitchon.

'I was a pretty useful 100m and 200m runner and I did the shotput.

'But we never had anyone to throw the hammer and the team needed points, so I said OK, I'll have a go. I had a few practice sessions before my first competition, where I threw 28 metres. It didn't start great.'

Those modest beginnings have grown into distances not only exciting for Hitchon, but for the future of British throwing and field events in general.

Tessa Sanderson was the last thrower to win an Olympic medal, the Los Angeles gold in 1984, but in common with pole vault hopeful Holly Bleasdale, Britain could soon be looking beyond the track.

In her first year, Hitchon broke the British under- 17 record. Over the next two seasons she smashed 14 junior and under-23 marks.

Last year she broke the British senior record twice, most recently with a throw of 69.59m at the European under-23 Championships in the Czech Republic.

She was breaking records at such a rate that pausing to take stock of her achievements was the biggest challenge.

'It was happening so quickly that I didn't have time to realise what was going on,' said Hitchon.

'Everything was getting better and better, like a snowball effect. I forget how many records I was breaking at the time.'

Hitchon was granted Lottery funding in 2010 on the back of this success, which enabled her to move to Loughborough, where she is coached at the University's sports campus by Derek Evely, the centre director.

She trains alongside elite athletes from a range of disciplines. In the gym there are solid men with sturdy legs and powerful upper bodies - the shot-putters - while the lean and long-limbed women are high jumpers.

Perched on a landing mat, Hitchon's event is harder to pin down.

Her 5ft 9in frame is not an obvious clue and nothing else about her says hammer thrower in the traditional sense.

She is athletic and her shoulders are strong. But she is also narrow at the waist, not carrying the weight around the middle of the successful hammer throwers of the past.

'When I tell people I do hammer,' said Hitchon, 'they say: "But you're not massive or tall. You look normal". 'Hammer has that reputation. Five years ago that was the case, but now there are quite a few women who are more slender and more in shape, so it's hopefully changing the stereotype.'

What she lacks in bulk, she makes up for in pace and finesse.

'Because I'm not the biggest, and I'm not very strong compared with the others, I rely on speed and technique,' said Hitchon, who can still lift 80kg, 3kg more than her own bodyweight.

'Technically, we've still a lot to work on. You learn what works. It's down to personal preference and what feels good. For me, it's a guessing game because I'm so young.'

At the World Championships in Daegu last summer, her first international senior competition, Hitchon came 26th.

'I'd never been to a major championships, where you're competing against the world record holder and past champions,' said Hitchon.

'I was in the athletes' village and Usain Bolt walked past. You pinch yourself and say, am I meant to be here? I loved it, but I felt a bit out of my depth. In London I know I deserve to be there.'

To qualify with the Olympic B standard, Hitchon needs to throw over 69m twice. But she is not interested in that.

'I want the A standard, 71.50m. I want to know I've qualified firmly and I'm going because I believe I can make the hammer final and who knows what else. I want my name on that team-sheet in thick black marker pen.'

There is one thing Hitchon will miss from her ballet days.

'The glamour. The performances were so much fun. Backstage you got to put loads of make-up on, wacky eye shadows and loads of mascara. I don't get to do that any more.'

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