British 400m hurdle champion on his rollercoaster of a race at British Championships while he prepares to compete in Paris without fellow Olympian brother
The Olympic Games are in full swing, yet the thrilling 400m hurdles race at the British Championships in Manchester this June remains unforgettable.
Alastair Chalmers
Alastair Chalmers, the reigning British Champion, stood at the starting line with one final opportunity to qualify for his first Olympics. To earn his spot in Paris, he needed to run under 48.7 seconds – a goal that was within reach after recently posting a 48.76 at the European Championships.
Just as the race was about to begin, the 24-year-old false started, blaming the distraction on noise from the stands. Allowed to run under protest, he channeled his frustration into an extraordinary performance, crossing the line in 48.54 seconds, a time that not only met the Olympic qualifying standard but also set a new championship record. However, his disqualification handed the official win to Alex Knibbs.
The Guernsey runner immediately launched a protest and after hours of anxious waiting, the decision was overturned, securing his place on the Olympic team. The raw emotion was shown as Chalmers cried in the stands with his family, tears of joy streaming down his face.
Alastair Chalmers (Getty)
“It was a rollercoaster of a day,” says Chalmers. “It was such an emotional day, it was horrible for my family and friends watching and for myself but I’m so glad it all worked out because I really deserve to be here [in Paris] and I’ve been running so well all year.
“I executed my race really well and ran a really difficult standard and threw myself across the line because I had to give it my all. I knew you could run under protest so I knew my rights with that. I heard something in the crowd, it was a legit kind of thing.
“It was my last chance to qualify for the Olympic Games so I knew it was a huge opportunity for me. I tried to stay as calm as possible and respect the judges and other athletes because they were all zoned in on the line and they don’t want to hear me shouting behind them. It was a long few hours pacing back and forth.”
After all the anticipation, he is now set to compete for Team GB in the 400m hurdles heats, joining an astonishing lineup of athletes. The event features reigning Olympic champion Karsten Warholm of Norway, five-time US champion Rai Benjamin, and 2022 world champion Alison dos Santos of Brazil.
You might think Chalmers would be living off a buzz after his qualification, but in reality, it has been quite draining. The intense effort needed to meet the challenging standard took a lot out of him, and he stands as the only Team GB athlete in the 400m hurdles event.
As the Games approach, UKA’s selection policy has been brought into the spotlight as athletes had to qualify not only through the World Athletics rankings but also by meeting the governing body’s stricter criteria. This meant Chalmers had to go above and beyond to secure his spot on the team.
Alastair Chalmers (Mark Shearman)
“I think having to fight for those times does bring the best out of yourself and with my event, even in the UK, so many guys have stepped up this year,” says Chalmers. “To get top three in the UK this year was pretty hard, it was probably one of the best British Champs finals in history.
“Being six hundreths off a pretty insane standard at the Europeans was really difficult for me because I wanted to really embrace how great that was. I ran a PB and did really well in my semi, but I just needed a bit more and it takes the achievement away.
“Setting 48.7 as the standard just to participate is ridiculously hard, it’s the fastest ever standard we have ever set. I was so emotionally drained after the British champs, I’ve never felt like that in my life.”
Chalmer’s qualification is a proud moment for Guernsey, as he stands alongside tennis player Heather Watson and dressage rider Carl Hester in representing the island’s population.
He made history as the first track and field athlete from Guernsey to win a Commonwealth Games medal, earning bronze in Birmingham in 2022. Now, he aims to bring pride to his island once more, although one familiar face will be missing.
Following in the footsteps of his brother, Cameron Chalmers, who ran the 400m relay for Team GB in Tokyo, Alastair hoped to share the Olympic stage with him. However, Cameron has been sidelined by injury and has recently undergone surgery, leaving Alastair to chase their Olympic dreams alone while Cameron watches from home.
Cameron Chalmers (Mark Shearman)
“This year he didn’t get lucky with anything really and I do feel for him because he’s got this fire in his belly to get back out there, especially after Tokyo,” says Chalmers.
“It’s going to be a long road back for him because he just had a serious kind of procedure but I am with him all the way and I really look forward to seeing him back on the track.
“To have two Guernsey boys in the team for the Olympics would be a pretty rare thing. So I really hope he can get back for LA Olympics and hopefully I can go as well.
“He won’t be in Paris because he is in a cast and can’t really move. I’m sure he would have loved to come but he will be watching it at home which isn’t too far away.”
Chalmers last competed at London Diamond League last month as he finished behind the pack clocking 49.52. However just the week before he was battling Covid-19 and is now back to normal, determined to leave everything on that purple track in Paris.
“A week before the London Diamond League, I got COVID. Of course that put my training to a stop and I then ran 49.5 in London and came last. The whole way round I was in gear one or two.
“But I am really healthy now and I’m training well again and I’m looking forward to being in that shape for Paris.”
Josh Kerr: “Expect one of the most vicious and hard 1500s in a while”