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On a fine sunny weekend at the British Masters Athletic Trial Field Championships 2001, I entered the male over-60s 100m and 200m sprints and one of the spectators was Josh, my five month old grandson – surely an incentive to impress.
I was out of the blocks first in both races and finished still ahead in both, winning two gold medals. The 100m medal I had engraved and dedicated to Josh. It now hangs in a glass case with my photograph in his bedroom.
Giving up
The following year, more than five years of athletics and the ravages of a rugby career spanning more than 1000 games was taking its toll. The effects of osteoarthritis were felt and running and training became painful. I hung up my spikes.
New motivation
In 2006 my granddaughter Rebecca was born and I wanted to do the same for her as I did Josh. I put my spikes on again and entered the 2007 British Masters Indoor Championships and won a bronze in the 60m and a gold in the 200m. Rebecca’s medal was duly dedicated to her and now hangs above her bed.
Recovery
Not long after, my arthritic hip stopped me from running, so in 2009 I had a complete hip replacement. Recovery was rapid and within four weeks of receiving my new hip I was back in the gym, and four months later back on the track. Despite my return to fitness, I found that my times were not improving, but I was desperate to improve because now I had another granddaughter, Sophie, who needed a medal like my other grandchildren.
Two weight sessions and two track sessions a week during January 2011 filled me with confidence and I proceeded to enter the championships in London. The 60m race went as I hoped but I missed the bronze by a 500th of a second. The 200m was always my favoured distance, and despite missing gold, I managed to get silver. Sophie had got her medal.
Sophie was waiting for me when I reached home. I have known the euphoria of winning gold and silver medals at world and European championships, but nothing could match the pleasure and pride I felt when I put the medal around her neck – and I admit to shedding a small tear.
Bryan Shearsmith
