Podcast #73: Poppy Malik excited by international breakthrough
In the latest England Athletics Podcast, 400m runner Poppy Malik describes her excitement after a breakthrough indoor season which saw her selected to represent Great Britain and Northern Ireland at her first major championships.
That debut at the European Indoors in Apeldoorn has been followed by another selection for May's World Relays for the Loughborough-based 21-year-old.
She tells host Alex Seftel about what it was like to rub shoulders with the greats of the sport and what she does during downtime between competition rounds.
"The first selection was just crazy for me, I feel like I've been working towards this for so long. The fact that it has finally happened has just been so amazing."
Malik also explains her involvement in England Athletics' Senior Talent Programme and what she has learned from her career so far. Reflecting on the Senior Talent Programme, she added:
"That's been super helpful. Something that has been really important is medical insurance. You have that peace of mind. It is difficult to make ends meet for a lot of athletes. To see people invest in you and support you is really key."
The episode can be listened to in full on Spotify, as well as Soundcloud and Apple Podcasts.
Photo by Pat Isaacs