Raise Your Game caught up with Great Britain's 4x100m silver medallist relay team at the European Team Championships 2009 to find out what it takes to be the ultimate team.
Raise Your Game: You've all come from your individual events to make up the 4x100 relay team. How important is it to be able to work as part of a team?
Laura Turner: It's very important. We've got a very strong six, let alone the four that are here, and there's still more that could come in. The team spirit is brilliant, we're very positive, and it was very competitive to get in. We work and train really hard so when it comes to the track we're happy.
RYG: With the group on the track at the same time you can motivate each other throughout the race. What sorts of things do you say to spur each other along?
Profile
Names:
Laura Turner, Kadi-Ann Thomas, Emily Freeman, Joice Maduaka
Events:
Great Britain 4x100m relay team
Achievements:
- Silver - European Team Championships, Leiria (2009)
Kadi-Ann Thomas: We're all in it for each other. We all signed up to do the relay so we all just think 'Let's get on and do the best for each other and for ourselves.'
RYG: How would you encourage young women to get involved in sport?
Emily Freeman: Go down to your local club and try out all the events. We have such a great time in athletics, we love travelling, we love working together in a team and we love the individual drive as well. It's just such a good sport to get into and you should definitely try it.
RYG: Sport can give you a lot as individuals, but as a team what else can athletics give you?
Joice Maduaka: It's the amount of friends that you make along the journey. I've got friends from all over the world, so I'm not short of places to go on holiday in the off season (laughs). These are going to be lifelong friends because at the end of the day we've gone through amazing experiences together, some good, some bad, but we've done it all together and you can't take those memories away from somebody.
RYG: If you could all give one piece of advice as role models to young people, what would that advice be?
Laura Turner: Make sure you're having fun. That's the whole reason I'm still having a great time. When I stop having a great time, I'll find something else that I enjoy.
Kadi-Ann Thomas: Set yourself goals and work to achieve those goals. Take it one step at a time and find ways to make it to where you want to go.
Emily Freeman: I think they're the main points to be honest (laughs)! Enjoyment's always top for me as well.
Joice Maduaka: Age really doesn't matter (laughs). It doesn't matter if you're old, it doesn't matter if you're young, as long as you're in it, you're enjoying it and you're doing what you need to do, keep on doing it.
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