S a brina Sinha
Sabrina Sinha is one of the top U20 middle
distance runners in the country. She medalled
at the European Athletics Youth Championships,
won the U17 London Mini Marathon three
times, and was part of the British Team that
won Gold at the Great Edinburgh Cross Country
International 2016. She’s also been tipped for
the Tokyo Olympics.
When we meet, Sabrina’s dressed in her
signature sports kit, smiley and energetic. When
I mention Tokyo, she shakes her head and grins
with a modesty that’s striking in its sincerity.
‘I take each year as it comes,’ she says. ‘If I’m
honest, my ultimate aim is to go to a major
championship. But to be an Olympian, I can’t
even imagine. This year I was even too young
to go to Olympic trials, so to even be considered
to go to Tokyo – that’s crazy for me.’
She was able to get a flavour of Olympic
camaraderie in Edinburgh as part of Team GB,
competing alongside the likes of Mo Farah. She
singles him out as one of her main inspirations.
‘He’s such an amazing idol, how he’s pushed
himself to be where he is today.’ With some
embarrassment, she describes their last meeting.
‘I was actually in the room at the time when
he was getting his physio done! I took a
picture of him and posted it on Snapchat,
and all my messages were coming through
like “Oh my God, you met Mo Farah!”’
Sabrina has a long history of fascinating
encounters from the sport, including
repeated meetings with Prince Harry at the
London Mini Marathon. ‘The last time I saw
him he turned around and was like “I know
you!”, so I think that counts as being able to
say that Prince Harry and I are friends.’
Does she realise that she will soon become
a role model? ‘Yes,’ she says. ‘To have
really young people look up to you, that’s
something that’s daunting, but at the same
time, it’s like Kelly Holmes said – she was in
the sport to inspire people and if I could do
the same, then I’d be honoured.’ To end, I ask her about her proudest
moment. She answers without hesitation.
Sabrina explains how media coverage has
been increasing, and how she recently had to
do a live ITV interview. ‘That was scary to say
the least, because it was all of London, so, if
you mucked up there was no going back.‘ ‘In one of my races I did close to the
impossible. It ended up as a sprint finish.
The other girl was supposed to be stronger –
she had a seven-second PB over me – but I
ended up winning it out of mental strength. I
can’t even watch that race; it makes me cry.’
How does she cope with the pressure?
‘I don’t!’ she says. ‘I struggle a lot. You’ve just
got to remind yourself why you’re doing it.’
With a grimace, she admits her social life
suffers. ‘And I accept it – if I want to go to
the top of running, that’s what I’ve got to
do. It’s just not easy when you see everyone
partying and want to join in. It’s tough, and
don’t get me wrong I’ve been tempted loads
of times, but that feeling when you win a
race, you can’t describe it.’
‘There were some dark times this year, but
I’m still here, I’m still surviving, so that’s all
I can ask.’
Interview by Niky Pasolini