Alastair Chalmers has firmly established himself as one of the top contenders in the 400m hurdles, a fact he recently highlighted after his performance in the Diamond League event in Stockholm. Competing against the top three Olympic medallists from Paris, Chalmers finished fifth, a testament to his growing prowess in the sport.

A Journey to the Top

Chalmers, the 25-year-old from Guernsey, has been on a steady rise in the athletics world. Earlier this month, he broke his personal best, setting a new benchmark for his career. His sights are now set on the World Championships in September, where he aims to make it to the finals.

"I raced against three of the best athletes in history, and that was a massive privilege," Chalmers shared with BBC Radio Guernsey. "Just getting to speak to them afterwards was awesome, and getting just on that level with them was great."

Confidence and Consistency

Chalmers' confidence is at an all-time high. "I definitely consider myself as one of the best in the world now, which is great," he said. This confidence stems from years of hard work, supported by a dedicated team including his coach, physio, and family.

"It's taken a lot of years to get to this level, and hopefully I can be as consistent as possible and stay out there," he added.

Upcoming Challenges

Next on Chalmers' agenda is the European Championship in Madrid at the end of this month. Following that, he aims to defend his British title, which he has held for the past five years.

Embracing the Journey

Chalmers is not just focused on the medals but also on the experiences the sport offers. "It's a dream come true travelling around the world running in Diamond Leagues or the Europeans or the Worlds and getting rare opportunities," he said.

Reflecting on his season opener in Tokyo, where the World Championships will be held, Chalmers shared, "It was a 14-hour flight, and it's pretty crazy to think you've travelled 14 hours for a 49-second race. A lot of people don't understand how that has effects on the body doing those long-haul flights."

Looking Ahead

As Chalmers continues to push his limits, he remains grateful for the opportunities and the hard work that has brought him this far. "When I'm done with this sport, just looking back on the opportunities I got given and the work I put in, I really hope I look back and look at it very fondly," he concluded.