About to Blow - Tyrone Edgar
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RWD
MTV Base and RWD share a cab to Lee Valley Athletics Centre to meet European Cup winning, 100 metres in 10.06 seconds running, Team GB qualifying, 26 year-old sprinter Tyrone Edgar. We talk Beijing, what we were like at school, the tricky Dwaine Chambers situation and why he hasn’t eaten chocolate in a year… Words by Danny Walker. Image by Simon Wheatley
“How’s it going D,” says a post-training-session Edgar. The last time I saw that shiny smile we were back in more familiar surroundings, Cracky Camden - the place where we both grew up. An area of north LDN, it has more pipe-smokers per square foot than in the entire back catalogue of Crackheads Gone Wild. It's where Edgar called home until he left for the States to study/ train six years ago. Today, the Linford Christie inspired runner reiterates he was living in California so that he could come back (in the words of a certain French melody making outfit) ‘Harder, better, faster, stronger.’ And he has; just days before we meet, Tyrone was selected to run in the 2008 Olympics.
Much bigger in physical appearance these days, Tyrone 2.0 is a far cry from his former St. Aloysius College self. “I was always the one running around the playground trying to race people at school in steel-capped Dr. Martins,” he laughs of college and primary school life. “You guys used to play football; I was never that good at it [Ed: Neither is Dan by all accounts!], so at 16 I went off to do athletics. Even then I always wanted to go to the Olympic Games. 10 years I’ve been dreaming of this, now I pinch myself to realise I’m actually going to be doing it. Stepping on the line with the Team GB kit on will be fantastic.”
Scheduled to leave for Beijing in just over a week’s time, Edgar seems remarkably relaxed in his plush surroundings. “Yeah, I’m done for the day now,” he insists after two hours of training with his American coach, Darrell Smith. “I’ve trained so hard and made so many sacrifices to get to this point," he admits. "I’d like to thank everyone for believing in me. I’d always hear, ‘When are we gonna see you on the TV?’ Now they’re seeing a bit too much of me," Edgar exclaims.
The European Cup win on 31 May, live on BBC One was another small screen moment and instantly placed him in the running for a place on Team GB. “I did my personal best in Genève,” he smiles as he sits on the side of the track. “I did 10.09 and then 10.06 seconds. I got a real big confidence boost after that. It made going to America, missing my mum and my family worthwhile.” It's clear family has always been key, and thoughts of mumzie are never too far away. “If I can put a smile on her face, that makes me happier than anything.”
As we move into the weights room (I knew his coach wasn’t going to let him get away with just two hours) all thoughts turn to 15 August. “I’m just blessed to be here,” he exhales when talking about Dwaine Chambers’ pinnacle court case. It was Chambers exclusion from the Olympics that has made it possible for Edgar to rep the UK. “Rules are rules, it’s just a blessing that I’ve been given a chance to go and represent my country. I know Dwaine on a personal level. He did what he did and he’s just trying to live his life.” The Leadership and Development degree owner is adamant his inclusion to Team GB will be justified. “I’ll take every round as it comes. I want to enjoy it as well. I’m not going to put too much pressure on myself. I’ve run a time this year and I know I can do it again,” T says confidently. As he makes for the large-off weights, he leaves us with his mantra. ”I don’t fear no-one or anything. We’re all human ain’t we? I think I have done the work to make it to the final.”
Tyrone Edgar will be running for Great Britain in the 2008 Olympics. Check him on MTV Base at the end of August
What will you be giving RWD for our 7th?
I can speak to a guy to get you some stuff!
And your best ever bday present?
An Xbox 360 with a couple of games. Gear of War is me.
And when you’re 80?
We might be chilling with some Guinness talking about how our lives went. I might still be running the track trying to beat veterans [laughs].
RWD Magazine
MTV Base and RWD share a cab to Lee Valley Athletics Centre to meet European Cup winning, 100 metres in 10.06 seconds running, Team GB qualifying, 26 year-old sprinter Tyrone Edgar. We talk Beijing, what we were like at school, the tricky Dwaine Chambers situation and why he hasn’t eaten chocolate in a year… Words by Danny Walker. Image by Simon Wheatley
“How’s it going D,” says a post-training-session Edgar. The last time I saw that shiny smile we were back in more familiar surroundings, Cracky Camden - the place where we both grew up. An area of north LDN, it has more pipe-smokers per square foot than in the entire back catalogue of Crackheads Gone Wild. It's where Edgar called home until he left for the States to study/ train six years ago. Today, the Linford Christie inspired runner reiterates he was living in California so that he could come back (in the words of a certain French melody making outfit) ‘Harder, better, faster, stronger.’ And he has; just days before we meet, Tyrone was selected to run in the 2008 Olympics.
Much bigger in physical appearance these days, Tyrone 2.0 is a far cry from his former St. Aloysius College self. “I was always the one running around the playground trying to race people at school in steel-capped Dr. Martins,” he laughs of college and primary school life. “You guys used to play football; I was never that good at it [Ed: Neither is Dan by all accounts!], so at 16 I went off to do athletics. Even then I always wanted to go to the Olympic Games. 10 years I’ve been dreaming of this, now I pinch myself to realise I’m actually going to be doing it. Stepping on the line with the Team GB kit on will be fantastic.”
Scheduled to leave for Beijing in just over a week’s time, Edgar seems remarkably relaxed in his plush surroundings. “Yeah, I’m done for the day now,” he insists after two hours of training with his American coach, Darrell Smith. “I’ve trained so hard and made so many sacrifices to get to this point," he admits. "I’d like to thank everyone for believing in me. I’d always hear, ‘When are we gonna see you on the TV?’ Now they’re seeing a bit too much of me," Edgar exclaims.
The European Cup win on 31 May, live on BBC One was another small screen moment and instantly placed him in the running for a place on Team GB. “I did my personal best in Genève,” he smiles as he sits on the side of the track. “I did 10.09 and then 10.06 seconds. I got a real big confidence boost after that. It made going to America, missing my mum and my family worthwhile.” It's clear family has always been key, and thoughts of mumzie are never too far away. “If I can put a smile on her face, that makes me happier than anything.”
As we move into the weights room (I knew his coach wasn’t going to let him get away with just two hours) all thoughts turn to 15 August. “I’m just blessed to be here,” he exhales when talking about Dwaine Chambers’ pinnacle court case. It was Chambers exclusion from the Olympics that has made it possible for Edgar to rep the UK. “Rules are rules, it’s just a blessing that I’ve been given a chance to go and represent my country. I know Dwaine on a personal level. He did what he did and he’s just trying to live his life.” The Leadership and Development degree owner is adamant his inclusion to Team GB will be justified. “I’ll take every round as it comes. I want to enjoy it as well. I’m not going to put too much pressure on myself. I’ve run a time this year and I know I can do it again,” T says confidently. As he makes for the large-off weights, he leaves us with his mantra. ”I don’t fear no-one or anything. We’re all human ain’t we? I think I have done the work to make it to the final.”
Tyrone Edgar will be running for Great Britain in the 2008 Olympics. Check him on MTV Base at the end of August
What will you be giving RWD for our 7th?
I can speak to a guy to get you some stuff!
And your best ever bday present?
An Xbox 360 with a couple of games. Gear of War is me.
And when you’re 80?
We might be chilling with some Guinness talking about how our lives went. I might still be running the track trying to beat veterans [laughs].
RWD Magazine
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