Broadbell not leaving anything to chance
Published:Friday | August 18, 2023 | 12:07 AMDaniel Wheeler/Staff Reporter
BUDAPEST, Hungary:
Hundredths of a second. That was the difference between 2022 Commonwealth Games 110 metres hurdles champion Rasheed Broadbell and a final appearance in his World Championships debut last year in Oregon.
Since then, he has taken a no-nonsense approach to every facet of his training, something he hopes will put him on the path towards a maiden world title when his campaign begins on Sunday.
Broadbell enters his second World Championships as the fastest in the world this year, clocking 12.94 seconds at the National Championships a month ago. He is coming off a stellar second half of the 2022 season, where he achieved his first major success in Birmingham.
But it was the narrow miss in Oregon that not only shifted his focus, but reminded him of the fine margins that exist in the sport.
“Coach (Reynaldo Walcott) and I were talking about it, and he was saying everything counts. In training, you were missing out on some stuff. And after that, we started to put in some different types of work, a different type of focus, a different type of maturity after that race. I think from then until now, I have probably gotten more mature in the sport. So it was a good eye-opener,” Broadbell said.
The wake-up call affected him so much that every single detail of his preparation is taken seriously to make sure that he leaves nothing to chance.
“I take the runs more seriously so I don’t play around with it. So I think most of the stuff I have been doing is much more differently and much more purposely,” Broadbell added.
Realising that the circumstances are much different this year than his debut, Broadbell hopes to emulate sprinting legend Usain Bolt with similar performances, inspired by his 100m world record-breaking run in 2009.
“At that time I was focused on the 100m because I looked up to Usain and what he did in the past. When you see his videos, you get so inspired. That’s one of the races I watched every day, the 9.58. That is one of the races I look at before I go to training because I am trying to simulate what he has done in the sport like get a world record or a fast time,” Broadbell said.
To get the prize, Broadbell says he has learned to calm his spirit as he hopes to capitalise on the massive opportunity in front of him.
“I think it’s mostly for me to keep my nerves down. I think that’s one of the things I have under control now. Obviously, it is going to be a different type of experience now because it’s the world title,” Broadbell says. “If you win this you are going to be the fastest person in the world for that year. So definitely, it is going to be something we are going to put into play for the next coming day.”