At just 19 years of age, Amber Anning is already a Sussex Athletics icon. Among her many accolades, in 2019 she was part of the British silver winning 4x400m team at the European Indoor Championships and at the European Junior Champs she took silver in the 400m (her time of 52.18 moved her to third on the UK all-time junior list) and gold in the 4x400m. On top of this, she is both the UK junior indoor 400m record holder, the Sussex senior women’s 400m record holder, and she is still the only British under-15 girl to have run three sub-13 seconds 100ms in a row, to break Dina Asher-Smith's UK 300m age group record in 2015.
In usual circumstances, she would be away studying in America, but Covid19 brought her home earlier than expected. Kate Matthews caught up with her to chat about her background in the sport, her training and how she is dealing with changes following isolation.
Kate: Who are you?
Amber: I’m 19, live in Hove and am a member of Brighton and Hove AC. Until the Coronavirus pandemic, I was in America where I’m a student athlete doing my degree at Louisiana State University (LSU), majoring in Public Relations and minoring in Psychology.
Kate: What are your favourite distances/disciplines? And why?
Amber: My favourite events are definitely 200m and 300m. I really enjoy running the 200m, as it’s half of what is now my usual distance, and I don’t feel the pressure as much as the race is over so quickly, which is a great feeling. The 300m, is the perfect distance - long enough for a race strategy but not too far!
The 400m, or quarter-mile as I’m getting used to calling it, is a hard event and until I moved up I had no idea that the extra 100m would make such a big difference! My legs feel fine until 300m!
Kate: How did you get into athletics?
Amber: I’ve always been very sporty, and from a young age took part in swimming galas. I played netball to quite a high level, whilst also being a dancer (tap, ballet and jazz). I was first exposed to running when I was five and living in Australia. At my school, we did a full range of track and field and cross-country and received our medals on a podium. I used to do really well at sports day, so as soon as we moved back to England, I joined Phoenix AC around the age of 9. The coaching was great, but I wanted to compete in a wider range of events and Phoenix is better known for its production of talented long-distance runners. I took to multi-events quite early and moved clubs to Brighton and Hove AC, who I proudly represent to this day! My focus eventually shifted to sprinting, but I did compete in cross-country, pentathlons and the Triple Jump, up until I was under 17.
Kate: What do you love/hate about the sport?
Amber: I love the sense of community. Track and field is exciting and I’ve made so many friends through the sport. I love how it brings people together and the atmosphere and the crowds in a stadium. I’ve been able to travel widely with athletics and it’s been so eye-opening and given me so many opportunities, including my scholarship to LSU.
I hate the uncertainty of track and field, which I know is part of all sport. It can sometimes feel really pressurised when people expect you to do well all the time, as that’s unrealistic. It’s also a big sacrifice and takes up a lot of your time, 
so you really have to enjoy it to continue to work hard, even during the tough times. Also, only a small number of athletes will have successful professional careers, there’s no guarantee.
Kate: What has kept you in it?
Amber: I had to choose between netball and athletics at 15. I really love athletics and work hard and want to be the best I can, and that goal has kept me from dropping out. I’ve had a few injuries in the past, which meant I missed out on important competitions, but my motivation to exceed my goals has pushed me through. You have to be mentally and physically tough to do well in the sport and I try to stay positive and remind myself of what I have and can achieve.
Kate: What is your most proud athletics' achievement moment?
Amber: Winning my first international medal representing England at the Commonwealth Youth Games in the Bahamas in 2017. I came away with a bronze in the 400m and silver in the 4x400m. It was a really fun competition and I gained a lot of experience from it, which has definitely helped me since. I would also say getting my first senior GB vest when I qualified for the European Indoor Athletics Championships in Glasgow in 2019. It wasn’t a goal and was very unexpected, which made it even more of an achievement.
Kate: What has been the toughest moment?
Amber: I was devastated to miss the World Juniors in 2018. Unfortunately, I injured my hamstring at the Loughborough International, when I was representing GB Juniors for the first time. I had to end my season and focus on rehabbing and getting better. It was really tough watching my friends compete and seeing all the pictures and memories. It was even harder as I knew my competitors were the best in the world and I wanted a chance to test myself against them.
Kate: How often do you train (in normal times)?
Amber: In America, I train every day except Sunday. Training starts at 13:45 and can finish anywhere between 15:30-17:00. On Saturdays, we start early in the morning. We lift weights three days a week, and most days we are doing some sort of running. Training varies depending on the time of the year. In Fall (Autumn), we aren’t sprinting much and are usually in trainers, doing grass runs or body builds for strength. In the spring season, focus switches to the track and we run in spikes, any distances from 100m-350m. The beginning of the week usually consists of harder runs, which gradually ease down as we approach competitions at the end of the week.
Kate: Have you had any bad injuries and how did you deal with these?
Amber: I pulled my left hamstring in 2017. I had on-going problems with a joint in my lower back, which was particularly stiff, putting pressure on my hamstring. I dealt with the injury by seeing my physiotherapist regularly and having a good rehab program in place. I was very dedicated and did my exercises daily. In 2018 I was also in contact with a UKA psychologist, who helped me get through injury and disappointment mentally by giving me tips and advice. I had to have a lot of patience and remain disciplined.
Kate: Other than actual achievements/PBs, what has being part of athletics brought to your life?
Amber: I think it has taught me how to balance the demands of life and to be disciplined and hardworking. The way I approach training is the way I approach my studies and attitude in life. It has made me a very organised person who strives to do well in everything I do, not just track!
Kate: Best athletics memory?
Amber : Watching the 2012 Olympics – especially Super Saturday - where Mo Farah, Jessica Ennis-Hill and Greg Rutherford all won gold medals within an hour. 
Kate: Weirdest athletics memory?
Amber: Being in the crowd at the World Athletics Championships in London in 2017 and hearing the whole crowd booing Justin Gatlin, as he lined up to run the 100m final.
Kate: What would you say to younger people wanting to get started?
Amber: Try every event! Do not specialise early on as you never know what your strengths are until you try other disciplines. Also just enjoy the sport, don’t take it too seriously. Being good aged 12 doesn’t mean you will be an Olympian, so just take in the moment, whatever level you are at. As you get older and better, it becomes tougher both mentally and physically. It’s a different type of enjoyment as an elite athlete, so make the most of the youthful days.
Kate: What would you change about the sport?
Amber: More accessible indoor facilities across the UK. We need a Lee Valley in Sussex.
- Introduce more fun competitions and events within the sport – such as the Nitro Athletics in Australia in 2017 and the World Relays, with events like shuttle hurdles, which I feel could be incorporated into the Olympics.
- Better marketing of the Sport. Athletics is so exciting but we have half-empty stadiums at regional and national championships.
- Fairer and transparent performance pathway selection policies. I know athletes who’ve been national age group medallists for years and have never been invited to a performance camp when people they have beaten are selected.
- Payment for coaches and greater investment in their development and grassroots athletics.
- Heats and progression in sprints up to 400 based on times, so fastest athletes progress. It would make events more competitive.
Kate: How do you juggle training/competitions around uni?
Amber: I balance my time really well and try and not procrastinate. I organise a schedule of when I’m going to get things done and try to stick to it. It’s hard but you just have to prioritise and make sacrifices.
Kate: Favourite athlete (past or present)?
Amber: I have too many and all for different reasons -
- Dina Asher-Smith – love seeing a British female athlete excel not only on a domestic level but also on the World stage. She’s so charismatic with a great personality and is an inspiration and an icon.
- Allyson Felix is the most phenomenal athlete, who has been world-class in three different individual events!
- Christine Ohuruogu – One of my all-time favourite athletes. Her determination, work ethic and success will always stay with me. She has also mentored me, as her coach Lloyd Cowan is my coach in the UK. Christine helped me so much during my injury and rehab. I have a lot to thank her for.
Kate: Any other favourites i.e. food, music?
Amber: Food – I love salmon with spinach and sweet potato chips, pasta, a good chicken korma curry and of course chocolate chip cookies (have to treat myself once in a while!)
Music – I listen to a lot of rap and R&B. My favourite artists include Rod Wave, Summer Walker, NBA YoungBoy, Dave, Roddy Ricch.
Kate: How are you managing to keep fit/train during Corona?
Amber: I’ve drawn up a program. I’m doing core every day in my bedroom followed by a glute and hamstring strength work out. I do some sort of running every other day, either a long run or some sprints in my local park.
Tips for others:
- Try to maintain general fitness – ask your coach for a program and also see what’s on-line.
- Do anything that keeps your body healthy and moving whether power walking, running or cycling.
- You can never do too much core so try to do it every day.
- Remind yourself of the long-term goal to keep yourself motivated, especially in these times of uncertainty.
Photo creds: Netball Photo courtesy of Nick Guise-Smith/Mirror Box Studios, LSU track courtesy of LSU Track and Field, Brit Champs indoors is from Brit Athletics.