13/03/2026
English Schools framed my teenage years.
how I did felt like a reflection of who I was
Year 7 10th - naive and wanting
Year 8 1st - ok
year 9 5th - useless
Year 10 1st - redeemed
Year 11 1st - enough
Year 12 20th - scum
Year 13 - dns - sick
I didn’t know I came 20th in Year 12 - I genuinely thought I’d finished 100th - all I knew is it was failure. I was soon diagnosed with glandular fever and spent 18 months out of competitive sport.
then I did a triathlon
the very best of joy to my athletes racing English Schools tomorrow. please know that wherever you finish I am proud of how you work as athletes and act as humans. if you win I’m happy but it will not change your soul. likewise if you are disappointed the future is long and varied.
i was always an amazing athlete when I was young because I was resilient and determined and brave and that NEVER changed with a position. I was exactly the same. that’s why you can be proud already - you wouldn’t have qualified without already being enough
coach Jodie x