British sprinter Chris Lambert - Aiming for the top!
How to balance a natural talent with the need to study
Going to the Athens Olympics, taking home two golds from an under-23 European Champs, traveling the world...you would have thought that the UK’s top 200m runner had everything he needed. However, Fazed caught up with Belgrave Harriers’ star sprinter, Chris Lambert, to find out why he made sure he got on track with a degree.
What made you decide to go to uni?
My mum always taught me that I would need to go to uni to stand a good chance of getting a good job. Even though it became obvious that I could make a living from running, I knew that getting a degree was important for when I finished that part of my career. Besides, the longer I spent at university, the more I wanted to complete that stage of my education – I was having a top time.
You enjoyed university then?
It's a very social time in your life. You get to meet some great people and can make friends for life, which is a very valuable thing.
We hear that you have started supporting a campaign called Aimhigher – what’s that about?
Aimhigher is a campaign encouraging people from all sorts of backgrounds to consider the benefits of getting into higher education.
I grew up in Peckham, and lots of kids in that area thought university was just for people from certain backgrounds - and it's just not true. I was lucky in that my mum gave me a bit of a push and I just ran with it. However, not everyone is that lucky, which is why I got involved in Aimhigher.
What will you being doing for Aimhigher?
Part of my work on the scheme means that I'll get the chance to go back to the schools around where I grew up and visit the Aimhigher Roadshow. Here I will have the chance to talk to people first-hand about higher education. I guess the opportunity to do that and get involved is what tempted me.
Did you enjoy school?
I enjoyed English, Graphics, Music and French but hated geography –it just didn't do it for me.
Didn’t you get the chance to go to university in America?
Yes, I went to Harvard. It's the kind of opportunity and experience that, if it arises, you really can't turn it down. It’s the chance of a lifetime and was recently voted the best university in the world.
How did you manage your university career with your running?
I started running in 1996, and only graduated last year – so I have had to be organised to manage the two. The tutors at university were brilliant and gave me the flexibility and support that I needed, especially when a big meet was coming up. So not only did I get to train for the Olympics, I also gained a degree.
What about your spare time, what do you like to do?
I like to listen to music - a lot of R n B and old soul music as well as more modern lounge stuff. I also enjoy socialising with my friends. It's tough to see them a lot because of training so I like to meet up as much as I can.
And finally, I hear that you have just been sponsored by Nike?
It’s a great encouragement to be sponsored by them because they are known for taking on some of the best athletes in the world. It’s a sign that things are going well.
Ever dreamed of a career in Athletics? Check out how a degree can help -
Coaching: Not only is Sport Science one of the fastest growing academic subjects in Britain, getting a degree in it can really put your coaching career in the starting blocks
Sports Management: Fancy managing the stars and mingling with the media? Check out a degree in Marketing to get you up and running
Physio: There are hundreds of higher education courses out there in physiotherapy – find the right one to suit you and make sure not having a degree isn’t your Achilles heel
Nutritionist: A qualification in food science can make sure you have the right ingredients to make your career get up and go
Event Management: A degree in hospitality or event management can make sure your meets run super smoothly
For more information on 'Aim higher' visit: www.aimhigher.ac.uk
