Olympic 1500m ace must bury ghosts to achieve greatness

Jun 29 2008 By Euan Mclean

TRACK star Andy Baddeley will be carrying excess baggage when he boards the British Olympic team flight to Beijing this year.

Nothing to do with over packing or a need to have every home comfort with him when he bids to claim 1500 metres glory.

No, Baddeley's baggage is more psychological as he tries to live with the legacy of the British legends who used to dominate middle distance running.

The names of Seb Coe, Steve Cram and Steve Ovett conjure inspiring memories of the golden age of British athletics. But for Baddeley, who has to strive to emulate them on the world stage, the inevitable comparisons bring even more pressure.

However, the 26-year-old is convinced he can turn the burden of past glories into a positive force to spur him on. The way he sees it, if these Brits could win Olympic medals then what's to stop him heading east to carve his own name in history?

On Tuesday, Baddeley increases his Olympic buildup with an appearance at the Bank Of Scotland Cup (formerly known as the Celtic Cup) at Grange mouth, where he'll be seeking victory in the 800 metres to go with his recent European title in the 3000m.

And as he prepared to head north he admitted he now feels ready to step out of the shadows of the British legends that have gone before.

Andy said: "It would be fantastic to bring those days back because everyone still talks about them.

"I didn't see any of their races live as I was too young but I feel encouraged by the legacy of the likes of Cram and Coe.

"If British guys doing my event could be so successful then as long as I am training the same way, why can't I achieve what they did?

"I'll certainly be trying my best to do that."

Baddeley is one of a host of big name stars set to compete in Grangemouth this week including Olympic and World heptathlon champion Carolina Kluft.

She will be a specially invited guest at the meeting that will see international teams from Scotland, Wales, Ireland, the USA (juniors) compete with a specially selected Bank of Scotland development team full of promising stars.

Baddeley is sure to be a big draw after confirming his class by helping the Great Britain men's team to victory at the European Cup in Annecy, France.

His sizzling win in the 3000 metres followed hot on the heels of his triumph in the prestigious Dream Mile in Oslo in a personal best time of three minutes 49.38 seconds.

That made him the first Briton to win the event since Peter Elliot in 1991 - a feat made all the more remarkable by the fact Baddeley has a heart condition.

He was first diagnosed with cardiac arrhythmia, a condition that can cause the heart to race at six times its normal speed, in 2004.

It is not life threatening but Andy well remembers the first attack he suffered in training. He said: "I always joke with my coach Andy Hobdell about the way it happened.

"We were in session and suddenly I stopped and lay down on the track feeling a little bit faint.

"Andy came over and said 'what's the matter, is it your legs?' And when I said no it's my heart, he said 'oh that's OK then!'"