The 28-year-old ran a 400m private finest on the London Diamond League, excellent timing forward of her Olympic efficiency
Laviai Nielsen first stepped foot inside London Stadium throughout the 2012 Olympic Video games as Jessica Ennis-Hill’s bag service. Little did she know that 12 years later she would return to the identical iconic stadium, not as a volunteer, however as a competitor, breaking the 50-second barrier within the 400m for the primary time.
Final Saturday (July 20) Nielsen ran 49.87 on the London Diamond League, taking a piece off her PB of fifty.67. Ending in fifth place, the run strikes Nielsen from No.12 on the UK all-time rankings to No.7.
“I stated to my coach I’m not leaving that stadium with out 49 subsequent to my title,” says Nielsen. “This entire season I’ve needed to be affected person and it has been a very long time coming. I stated I don’t care what occurs in Could, June, July so long as I’m prepared in August and now I’m prepared.”
Crossing that line in tears introduced Nielsen again to London 2012 the place she labored as a volunteer.
Carrying the baggage of Olympic champion Ennis-Hill impressed the teen to achieve her full potential and grow to be an Olympian at some point herself. “I actually imply it once I say that is my favorite place on the planet,” says Nielsen.
“That is the stadium the place I used to be impressed to decide to the game full time in 2012. I’ve this stadium to thank for a lot.”
Laviai Nielsen (Getty)
The London Stadium appears to embrace Nielsen as a lot as she cherishes it. After deciding to focus solely on the 400m, Nielsen clinched her first main championship medal within the 4x400m on the 2017 World Championships, hosted on the London Stadium.
Whereas finding out geography at King’s Faculty London, Nielsen, alongside her GB team-mates Zoey Clark, Eilidh Doyle and Emily Diamond, received the silver medal in entrance of a house crowd.
Laviai Nielsen at London 2017 (Getty)
Nielsen’s success on the London Stadium didn’t finish there. In 2019, she broke the 51-second barrier on the Anniversary Video games clocking 50.83. Remarkably, this milestone occurred on the identical monitor and precisely 5 years to the day she achieved her sub-50 triumph final weekend (July 20).
It’s clear that Nielsen received’t be turning down any alternatives to race in London once more. “There’s one million the reason why this stadium is my favorite place on the planet,” says Nielsen.
“That is the stadium the place I received my first medal seven years in the past. That is the stadium the place I broke 51 for the primary time 5 years in the past. And now it’s the stadium the place I broke sub-50 for the primary time. It simply means a lot to me and we should always positively be having extra competitions right here.”
Nielsen’s journey has been a household affair, shared along with her twin sister, Lina. Each having volunteered at London 2012, they’re now set to journey to Paris collectively for the following chapter of their Olympic desires.
Laviai and Lina Nielsen (Getty)
Laviai secured her spot for her second Olympic Video games after a powerful efficiency on the UK Championships in Manchester, ending second [50.92] within the 400m to Amber Anning. This will probably be her first particular person Olympic race, after ending fifth within the girls’s 4x400m in Tokyo.
Lina will probably be making her Olympic debut after narrowly lacking out on the Tokyo workforce as she earned her place with a triumphant first place [54.81] within the 400m hurdles this yr in Manchester.
The Nielsen twins have already began this yr on a excessive notice on the British Indoor Championships in February, with Laviai taking gold and Lina claiming silver within the 400m.
They continued their success as they captured world indoor bronze within the 4x400m in Glasgow with a British document of three:26.36. Now, they’re poised to tackle the world collectively in Paris.
GB 4x400m girls’s relay (Getty)
“I used to be actually unhappy final time that I went to the Olympics with out her [Lina],” says Laviai. “I actually felt that it was one thing we should always have skilled collectively.
“I used to be truly in quarantine final time for many of it so I believe we are going to each be going to expertise an Olympic championships for the primary time, and we will probably be doing it collectively.”
The pair have lately returned from Rome, the place they competed on the European Championships. Nevertheless, reaching the beginning line was a big problem for each sisters.
Only a week earlier than the championships, their coach, Tony Lester, suffered a coronary heart assault throughout coaching.
“I’m actually proud with how Lina and I each executed these championships, they had been removed from simple for the each of us.
“Trying again now, I’m truly stunned I used to be even capable of get around the monitor as a result of I felt horrible.
“However I really feel a lot better now and coach has had such an incredible restoration, and he has taught us loads from his restoration. He couldn’t steer clear of the monitor and we’ve had a great lead as much as the Olympics.”
Regardless of the emotional and bodily hurdle, Laviai clocked a private finest of fifty.73 within the rounds and completed sixth within the remaining, whereas Lina achieved a private better of 54.43 within the 400m hurdles spherical, ending seventh total.
Their complete journey has been documented on their YouTube channel, ‘The Nielsen Twins.’ They started sharing their athletics journey final yr, while additionally opening up concerning the wrestle of residing with a number of sclerosis (MS). Lina was first identified with the situation at 17, and Laviai discovered she was additionally affected simply two weeks earlier than the Tokyo Olympic Video games.
Decided to indicate that their situation doesn’t outline or restrict them, the sisters began their storytelling course of on YouTube final yr.
This yr, they’ve been importing a sequence of movies titled ‘Highway to Paris’ which comply with the pair as they practice and compete all over the world – with the hopes of qualifying for the Olympics. What began as a dream has now grow to be a actuality.
“Lastly, we’re on that highway to Paris and have reached the ultimate straight,” says Laviai. “There isn’t a lot work left to do now.
“I’ve excessive hopes for Paris and I can hopefully count on one other PB once I get there. I actually wish to make that Olympic remaining.”
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