Sky Academy Sports Scholarships: Jessica Judd eyes more success after brilliant 2013
By Sam Drury - Follow on Twitter
Last Updated: 26/03/17 3:47pm
Jessica Judd declared herself happy with her performances in 2013 but is eyeing further success after admitting 'I always want more'.
The middle-distance runner enjoyed a fantastic start to the season in winning the 800m title at the European Team Championships before triumphing over the same distance at the Diamond League meeting in Birmingham, breaking the two minute barrier in the process.
I'm really happy but I think I'm really greedy because I always want more
Jessica Judd on 2013
An early exit at the World Championships was the one disappointment for Judd, who is currently trying to overcome a back injury, in an otherwise positive year.
"I'm really happy but I think I'm really greedy because I always want more," said Judd. "The season started off amazingly and I couldn't ask to have achieved much more.
"Only the World Championships didn't go to plan for me but someone said to me that a plan is all good until you get punched in the face. I guess that's what an injury is; it's a punch in the face. It's just something you have to deal with and hopefully I can make myself stronger for next year."
Training
The injury is by no means a knock-out blow with the Sports Scholar aiming to be back in full training early in the New Year with her focus turning to big events in 2014.
"I just really want to get to January and be able to run, be fit and get training again, to be honest," Judd added. "I'm doing lots of stuff now, which is good, but I really want to get back into the hard, tough training, the blocks of training. I think the Commonwealths and Europeans are the main aim."
Before then she is able to reflect on another highly encouraging year, one that has not gone unnoticed. Judd recently won the Lillian Board Memorial Award for junior female athlete at the BAWA awards as well as having been nominated for the Young Sports Personality of the Year Award.
"I was so surprised. I didn't expect it at all," she said. "I never, ever get nominated for awards so this year has been a bit strange because, especially with being a Scholar, so much has happened this year and so many things that I've got - I can't believe it.
"It's really weird, like when you go to the presentations and you're standing next to these people who you look up to and really aspire to be like, it's really strange. When I won the Lillian Board Memorial Award I think that was the best award I've ever won.
"I've read her book and it's such a tragic story, I think she's such an inspiration and she's always been a role model of mine so it was quite emotional when I won that one."