The latest episode in the Legends of athletics, signature edition series is now online and features 1997 world 200m champion Ato Boldon.
<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kXLiBDu2IOE?rel=0&amp;showinfo=0" width="500" height="281" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen">&amp;lt;br class="k-br" /&amp;gt;</iframe>

The latest episode in the Legends of athletics, signature edition series is now online and features 1997 world 200m champion Ato Boldon.

Legends of athletics, signature edition – Ato Boldon

In the latest in our mini-series tracking the journey of athletes from the World Athletics Championships Doha 2019 through to the Tokyo Olympics, we focus on world javelin champion Kelsey-Lee Barber from Australia.
&nbsp;
Looking back to 2019, what does your World Championships success in Doha mean to you?
Kelsey-Lee Barber: Reflecting on that win means so much more to me following the break in competition in 2020. There was so much that went well in Doha that I can draw from. It really gives me fuel in the belly and I can&rsquo;t wait to be back out there competing for a gold medal in Tokyo later this year.
&nbsp;
Your last competition took place in Doha more than 15 months ago. What is the feeling like having not competed for so long?
KLB: It has certainly been unknown territory for me and no one could have predicted the emotional waves I have experienced. I&rsquo;ve definitely had my ups and downs, but I have to take the positives out of the situation. Covid has given me the chance to train uninterrupted and we&rsquo;ve been really lucky to be able to have done so in Australia, especially here in Canberra. The AIS (Australian Institute of Sport) has done such a great job at keeping facilities open to athletes to continue daily training as normal. I am very thankful for that.
Having said that, there have been moments in the past 15 months which have been exceptionally challenging. European athletes were able to compete at a few meets here and there and this acted as a reminder that this is what I want to do and where I want to be.
&nbsp;
How has your life changed since becoming world champion?
KLB: In many regards not too much has changed, but what has most changed is the belief in my ability to perform at the highest level. I take that attitude into training every day. Before my win (in Doha) I always had a self-belief that I could always one day do it, but now that I have won gold I feel like there is a level (in training) that I don&rsquo;t let myself go below.
&nbsp;
<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/H8xsL7MAi4I" width="100%" height="450" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKXHkxbjMPg" target="_blank" rel="noopener">WATCH: full coverage of the women's javelin final at the World Athletics Championships Doha 2019</a>
&nbsp;
Life in Australia changed very rapidly with lockdown last March. How did your life change in this period?
KLB: I was just a week away from the Brisbane Track Classic &ndash; which would have been my first comp of the year &ndash; then everything went very quickly into lockdown. Meets were cancelled, then states went into lockdown and then we went into lockdown off site at the AIS. We set up a home gym but the AIS were great in still giving athletes access to the track. I could go twice a week with my coach but with a maximum of only one athlete and one coach at any one time at the track.
The next big question was: what was going to happen with the Tokyo Olympics? It was hard to put in a lot of preparation and planning but when the decision made to postpone the Olympics this gave us a better sense of how we were going to approach the year. The original plan was to travel to Europe to do some comps but because of the pandemic, we made the decision from a health and safety perspective to stay at home.
&nbsp;
So what were your emotions with the Tokyo decision?
KLB: Initially, I very much supported that decision. Australia did not want to take a team to the Games by that point, so it was a relief when the decision was made. I then took two weeks off to allow myself to process the information. It was disappointing and frustrating coming off my World Championship success, I wanted to ride that wave and I had big goals. But this two-week period was important because it gave me the time to process that information.
&nbsp;
What specific areas did you work on developing in 2020?
KLB: I had quite a significant shoulder niggle going into the World Championships and one of the biggest pluses of 2020 is I did not have to rush the rehab process. I could take the time to get the shoulder right from a strength point of view and to get it ready for the stresses of throwing.
Also, we&rsquo;d normally be lucky to get in a six-week strength block at the end of the year but in 2020 I was able to get in a 12-week strength block &ndash; I&rsquo;ve never been able to do that before.
&nbsp;
Your husband, Mike, is also your coach. What challenges have you faced, particularly in 2020 with a period in lockdown?
KLB: I&rsquo;m really proud of the way we work together. People are so curious as to how we do it! I so respect Mike as my coach and what he brings to the table. In training mode we very much have an athlete-coach relationship. Then when we come home it is important to keep that for home life and not get too caught up in javelin. When these lines become blurred that&rsquo;s when it can become difficult. Yet some of our best discussions about javelin are when we go for a walk together in the evening of early morning. That is why we appreciate about our relationship. Athletics and javelin is a shared passion and we have some great conversations on the subject.
&nbsp;
<img src="https://media.aws.iaaf.org/media/Carousel2/e55d273d-a0aa-4bcd-91f2-eb02450bbd9e.jpg?cachebuster=edce1edc-5f58-4960-b9c9-18d1805f32fe" alt="" width="950" height="570" />
&nbsp;
2020 was a tough year for many athletes. Who have you leaned upon to help get you through this period?
KLB: I normally rely on a small inner circle of people but this year I&rsquo;ve expanded it to include some top athletes like Dani Stevens and Brooke Stratton and Matt Denny. We would meet for weekly Zoom chats with the Athletics Australia head coach Craig Hilliard. It was super helpful to hear how other athletes were going. If one of us was struggling with motivation, we were then able to draw motivation from each other.
&nbsp;
What are you competitive plans for 2021?
KLB: This is really exciting! I plan to compete in Canberra on 25 February and 11 March and then Brisbane on 27 March ahead of Aussie nationals in April. At the moment we&rsquo;ve only planned for the Australian season but later this year I would love to be able to compete in Europe ahead of the Tokyo Olympics.
&nbsp;
What are you aiming for at the domestic meets?
KLB: To get a feel for competition again and to experience the competition routine. I hope to showcase what we have been doing in training and put my stamp on 2021.
&nbsp;
<img src="https://media.aws.iaaf.org/media/Carousel2/650799ae-f7e0-4712-b629-6881dc216114.jpg?cachebuster=9e72be32-1a8a-46ee-8ff0-ae1e064826b5" alt="" width="950" height="570" /> Kelsey-Lee Barber in action at the Diamond League meeting in London (&copy; Getty Images)
&nbsp;
What are your main aims for 2021?
KLB: A gold medal in Tokyo &ndash; that is what I&rsquo;ve been working towards for my entire career. I&rsquo;ve also yet to win a Diamond League and I would really like to end that.
&nbsp;
Looking back on 2020, what did it teach you as a person?
KLB: It reminded me it is okay to slow down a little! I love my lifestyle as an elite athlete but because I was forced into a year at home, I found enjoyment slowing down and reconnecting with a few hobbies such as cooking. I really enjoyed the chance to spend more time with family and friends. Last year taught me that it is important to have a better balance in life and we don&rsquo;t have to live out life at such a fast pace all the time.
&nbsp;
Steve Landells for World Athletics

In the latest in our mini-series tracking the journey of athletes from the World Athletics Championships Doha 2019 through to the Tokyo Olympics, we focus on world javelin champion Kelsey-Lee Barber from Australia.

Doha to Tokyo: Kelsey-Lee Barber

<h3>Few athletes had a regular season in 2020. Some were able to compete in a handful of international races, some stayed local and contested a few low-key meetings, while others took a complete break from competition.</h3>
 In the first of our series in which we chat to medallists from the World Athletics Championships Doha 2019 to see what they did with the extra year leading into the Tokyo Olympics, we catch up with men&rsquo;s 400m champion Steven Gardiner of The Bahamas.
&nbsp;
How has life changed since winning world 400m gold in 2019?
Steven Gardiner: Well, for one, it has been great (to be world champion) and number two it is still an unbelievable feeling that I am a world champion. It has been good to have been able to share my experiences when people ask me questions like; &lsquo;what does it feel like to be a world champion?&rsquo;
&nbsp;
What is the best thing that has happened to you as world champion?
SG: After Doha I returned back to The Bahamas for a week on an all-expenses-paid trip set up by The Bahamas Olympic Committee. I had a grand time actually, I was really spoiled. One day I went on a trip to another island to speak to some schoolkids. I spent every day on the beach.
&nbsp;
<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9cRBJV0RcSo" width="100%" height="450" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddLqYqUjTNo" target="_blank" rel="noopener">WATCH: full coverage of the men's 400m final at the World Athletics Championships Doha 2019</a>
&nbsp;
When you started training at the end of 2019 in the countdown to what we then thought would be the following summer&rsquo;s Olympic Games, did you tweak anything in your training?
SG: Many things were the same, although my coach, Gary Evans, introduced a lot more speed work. It was fun and it really paid off (in 2020).
&nbsp;
When the global pandemic started accelerating around March of last year, how would you assess your shape and fitness?
SG: I was going very well at that time, although once the pandemic hit the training tracks were shut down, so we had to find another way to train. The reaction of my training group was very positive in terms of having to find other ways to stay active and in shape. I have a street bike, so many of us would hit the bike trails. It was nice to have a break from running and we saw some different scenery.
&nbsp;
What was your reaction to the news that Tokyo Olympics were postponed until 2021?
SG: I was not too disappointed that we had to wait another year. I was looking forward to the Olympics, but we had to accept the decision. For the athletes it was right. At that time (of the pandemic) everyone was unsure how things would play out.
&nbsp;
You focused on the shorter sprints in 2020, clocking a 100m PB of 10.35 and national records for 150m (15.07) and 300m (31.83) in seven local races in Florida and Georgia. How do you assess your performances?
SG: I had a lot of fun. During the pandemic we decided to focus on the shorter sprints and leave competing again in the 400m to 2021. It was fun and games, I enjoyed competing and it was nice to set a national record.
&nbsp;
<img src="https://media.aws.iaaf.org/media/Carousel2/36e12a69-1550-48b2-9398-4cfdbefdda3c.jpg?cachebuster=0e628a6a-7e4c-4ff3-90f8-803da9a12f73" alt="" width="950" height="570" /> Steven Gardiner in action in Chorzow in 2018 (&copy; organisers)
&nbsp;
What was the biggest challenge you faced during a difficult 2020?
SG: I would say not being able to travel home to The Bahamas. I normally fly the 25 minutes from Florida (Gardiner&rsquo;s training base) to home (on the island of Grand Abaco) whenever I feel, but I have not been back since October 2019 because of the pandemic. I&rsquo;m very close to my family and we speak every day. I&rsquo;m the youngest of seven siblings (including half-sisters and half-brothers).
&nbsp;
Did you find your motivation waning following the 2020 season and was it hard to get up for training in the countdown to 2021?
SG: It was a bit of challenge for me, but I know what needs to be done and my family is my biggest motivation. I talk to my family every day and they always encourage me to keep going.
&nbsp;
You were aged just 20 at the time you reached the 400m semifinals at the 2016 Rio Olympics. What did you learn from your Olympic debut appearance?
SG: It was my first Olympics, so I faced many new experiences. The main thing would be to treat it as no different to a regular World Championships. The overall experience was mind-blowing.
&nbsp;
As reigning world champion, you are among the pre-race favourites for the men&rsquo;s 400m at the Tokyo Olympic Games. How do you handle that expectation?
SG: I just do what I have to do, block out the distractions and try to have fun. I am generally pretty calm, but the butterflies are always there and I guess that&rsquo;s normal. I just focus on training hard in practice, so that when it comes to competition I can put it altogether.
&nbsp;
How do you relax away from the track?
SG: I just do normal stuff that people with regular nine-to-five jobs would do. I go to the shopping mall, watch TV, hang out with friends and play video games. I love action movies and the Fast and Furious series.
&nbsp;
What are your aspirations for 2021?
SG: I just want to compete the best I can and leave with a medal, specifically the gold medal (in Tokyo). I know what I have to do. For the season, I&rsquo;d like to run a few PBs and then win an Olympic medal.
&nbsp;
When winning the world title in 2019, you ran a national record of 43.48 to climb to sixth on the world all-time list. Is the world record a future target?
SG: I would say that is everybody&rsquo;s dream! If I do set the world record, I want it to be a surprise. I just want to go out, compete and then when I look at the clock, find that I&rsquo;ve set a world record.
&nbsp;
You also hold the national 200m record with a best of 19.75. In future would you consider doubling up at major championships to compete in both the 200m and the 400m?
SG: That is the dream. If the schedule allows, it is something we would also like to work on in future.
&nbsp;
Where do you feel you&rsquo;ve improved since you won the world title in Doha?
SG: I would say in the longer runs. I&rsquo;m doing the 500m and 800m sessions better than in previous years. I&rsquo;ve got stronger in the gym and this has translated when I move to my track work.
&nbsp;
<img src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/5ffec4e32b16c95409c484b4.jpg" alt="" width="950" height="649" /> Bahamian sprinter Steven Gardiner (&copy; Dan Vernon)
&nbsp;
What are your best qualities as a 400m runner?
SG: I would say my strength and height. You have to be strong in the 400m because you need that mix of endurance and speed. And my height allows me to cover more ground than the average shorter sprinter.
&nbsp;
You were first introduced to 400m from your high school track coach who recommend you step up in distance because he saw you as too tall for the shorter sprints. What would you like to say to your former high school coach?
SG: I hated the 400m at first but the event was my calling. I didn&rsquo;t see it at the time but today I would say to the coach &lsquo;thank you so much!&rsquo;
&nbsp;
Steve Landells for World Athletics

Catching up with world 400m champion Steven Gardiner

Doha to Tokyo: Steven Gardiner

Athletics@Home returns - this time with a spooky twist!
World 110m hurdles champion Grant Holloway, world long jump champion Malaika Mihambo and African triple jump record-holder Hugues Fabrice Zango have woken up on Halloween feeling a bit... different.
Can you bring their new characters to life by adding some colour to these images?
<a href="https://www.worldathletics.org/download/download?filename=392413dc-a5ae-48fe-83f3-ccfde64071e1.pdf&amp;urlSlug=athleticshome-halloween-colouring-in" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Download and print</a>
<a href="https://www.worldathletics.org/download/download?filename=392413dc-a5ae-48fe-83f3-ccfde64071e1.pdf&amp;urlSlug=athleticshome-halloween-colouring-in" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://media.aws.iaaf.org/media/Original/90d79d0e-957c-4d7e-a947-0717c5ce2fea.png" alt="" width="600" height="288" /></a>

Athletics@Home returns - this time with a spooky twist!

Series14 Apr 2016

Doha to Tokyo: Kelsey-Lee Barber

Doha to Tokyo: Steven Gardiner

Athletics@Home - Halloween colouring in