Q&A with Surrey athletes: Adelle Tracy

What is your discipline in athletics?

I do 800 and 400 metres. I prefer to 800m but in order to be fast in this event I must be fast at 400m.

Do you train locally and what age did you begin to train?

I train at the Guildford and Godalming athletics club and have been there since the age of 12. I took an interest in the sport because my dad was an athlete. He actually ran for Jamaica!

I guess your dad must be glad you're following in his footsteps. Would he prefer that you ran for Jamaica or is he proud that you're in team GB?

Oh he's definitely proud yeah *laughs*. It doesn't really matter to him so he is proud.

Having lived in the US, Jamaica and Britain do you have a preferred team who you would cheer for at London 2012?

It would be Great Britain. I've lived here for most of my life so I'm a supporter of Team GB *laughs*

Could you give us some details of your training?

I do about five training sessions a week. This involves a combination of gym sessions, jogging, long run and track sessions. If the weather is bad then unfortunately I don't go into an indoor track. We train out on the track in all weathers.

So is the training intense, does it have an effect on you physically?

Yeah the 400m can be very intense and you can feel quite sick afterwards. But the 800m is based more on speed and endurance.

Are there any specific diets you have after training? And how do you celebrate a win?

I'm generally healthy and have a good diet when training. But after an event I like to treat myself to a Ben and Jerry's ice cream. That's my treat *laughs*

Do you tend to get nervous before an event? Are there any superstitions and lucky charms you and your teammates have?

Generally I don't get that nervous before events. I can get tense but I like to be focused and in the zone. I try not to get to nervous as obviously you perform better. As for the lucky charms... no we don't *laughs*. I'm not a great believer in superstition. I try not to concentrate on that as you tend to rely on the wrong things.

Have you ever had any injuries? And if so how did you cope? Did you do any light training during your recovery?

Yeah I've had minor injuries but when I was injured I tend to do aqua-jogging in the water. This involved less pressure on your legs.

Do you have any advice for young people who are thinking of taking up this sport?

I think athletics is an easy sport to get into it doesn't require a lot of equipment. You just need to turn up to training and that's about it.

Has athletics taken you to many places abroad or is it mainly in the UK?

When you're an up and coming athlete a lot of your events will be in the UK. But even then it is interesting. You get to go all over the country and it is a great thing about being an athlete as you get to travel a lot. When you get to become an international athlete then you start competing abroad.

Do you have any preferred places that you've been to?

I've been to Tempere in Finland and I'm hoping to go to Barcelona soon.

What next for Adele Tracy?

My long-term goal is to compete at the World Juniors in 2012. I feel I'm a bit too young to aim for the London 2012 Olympic Games, but 2016 would be a more realistic goal.