Emily Diamond means business in pursuit of not only Team GB’s first athletics medal of Tokyo 2020 but a place in history.
Bristol runner Diamond, who attended Loughborough University, was part of a 4x400m mixed relay quartet alongside Cameron Chalmers, Zoey Clark and Lee Thompson that booked Team GB’s place in the final during the first day of athletics action at this year’s Games on Friday.
The foursome set a national record time of 3:11.95 to finish fourth in their heat and although only the top three qualified automatically, they were one of two fastest losers.
Their time would actually have won the other heat and with USA getting disqualified, another medal slot has suddenly opened up.
Diamond is attending an Olympics for the third time – having been selected in the squad for London 2012 and winning 4x400m women’s relay bronze at Rio 2016 – and although the rest of the quartet are all Games debutants, the 30-year-old is confident they can pull up some trees.
“I think we’re in a really good position as a team, but also as individuals as well,” she said. “This was kind of like the dress rehearsal in a way that we went out there, dusted off the cobwebs and got rid of a few nerves.
“It’s a few of these guys’ first Games which is always a bit daunting.
“The Olympic Games just holds something a bit extra in your heart so it’s nice to get that run out today and then tomorrow we’ll knuckle down and we mean business to try and get a medal.”
If the 4x400m mixed relay team can climb the podium in Saturday’s evening session, it will be Team GB’s first athletics medal of the Games – with another medal contender Dina Asher-Smith likely to compete in the women’s 100m final about 15 minutes later.
The relay quartet would also write their name indelibly in the history books, as this is the first time the event has been included at an Olympics.
“Obviously the event (4x400m mixed relay) started in Doha in 2019 (at the World Championship) and I was luckily part of that team as well,” added Diamond’s teammate Clark.
“It’s just really exciting – we’re used to men’s and women’s relay but this just felt fun. You’re racing with different people, you’re racing against different teams, so I think it definitely brings some excitement to it.”
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