The 27-year-old is hopeful of Olympic selection and now has his sights set on the national 20km record
Callum Wilkinson smashed his own UK 10,000m race walks record on Sunday and says if he’s picked for the Paris Olympics he wants to try to break Tom Bosworth’s national 20km record of 79:38.
Wilkinson, 27, clocked 38:43.91 to beat his previous mark of 39:05.85 which was set in Newport in 2021 a few months before he finished 10th in the Tokyo Olympics 20km.
“I think it is enough [for Paris] and probably went even better than I was aiming for so long as no one has done anything crazy fast across the world this weekend,” said Wilkinson, who was ninth in the European Championships in Rome earlier this month.
“The championship race in Paris will be different. I really want the British 20km record. I feel I have got that in me. It is the one I have always wanted since I was young.
“I will go straight to altitude after this to St Moritz as it is my favourite place in the world to train. The elite endurance set-up is so strong in this country.”
Callum Wilkinson (Getty)
He added: “My one bit of advice to anyone who qualifies here is to enjoy it and treat it as your last Olympics not your first. I have had so many injuries and surgeries since the last Olympics to be back in this position is so exciting and I really enjoy it. I have matured in the last three years and to go again is for me.”
Ninth at the European Championships in Rome in 81:34.
Just 17, Gracie Griffiths won the women’s 5000m title.
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