Former Olympic 110 meter hurdler Andy Turner is once again aiming for Olympic gold, this time with the kids from ISD Athletics.
\nBased at Dubai\u2019s Sports City, the new academy is open to all ages and abilities as the academy sets out to bring world-class training and coaching to the city.
\nThree-time Olympic medallist has been in Dubai for the past three months as the academy looks to find the next athletics star using Turner\u2019s knowledge and experience to unearth and build the talent in the region.<\/p>\n
View this post on Instagram<\/p>\n
A post shared by Inspiratus Sports District (@isd_dubai)<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a passion, not just a job,\u201d he tells Sport360. \u201cIt\u2019s important for athletes to give something back and not just retire and take that knowledge with them. A mutual friend put us in touch and I was excited about coming to Dubai\u00a0it\u2019s really nice to be back involved. I\u2019ve been enjoying my time here everyone has been great to me and the way they\u2019ve set up ISD.\u201d
\nWith ISD Athletics, we are raising the bar on athletics in the UAE providing a platform for girls and boys of all levels and abilities from 5 years and up to enhance their skills and learn new ones. We also offer a pathway to pro careers and university scholarships.
\nWe have all major disciplines here: sprints, middle and long distance runs, hurdles, shot put, discus, javelin, long jump, triple jump, and high jump as well as strength and conditioning to ensure each athlete gets a well-rounded development.
\nBut isn\u2019t exclusive only for those looking to reach the Olympics.\u00a0\u00a0 The European and Commonwealth gold medallist is keen for all kids to get involved as the academy. \u201cI\u2019m trying to make it as fun as possible for the kids, I\u2019m a bit of a kids entertainer. We have to make the kids enjoy it, it can\u2019t be hard work all the time, we need to engage with them as well. Luckily we\u2019ve had some great results already in our time trials, which is great to be a part of.\u201d
\n <\/p>\n
View this post on Instagram<\/p>\n
A post shared by Inspiratus Sports District (@isd_dubai)<\/p>\n
\nHaving been in Dubai for the past three months Turner has been able to cast his eye over the talent in the region and has been encouraged, with what he\u2019s seen thus far. \u201cI\u2019ve been impressed with the talent; there\u2019s a real array here. There are kids who really want to push on and become the next level, which is great because we can relate to those, having competed at the highest level. There are some kids here who are doing it just for fun, which is absolutely fine and they\u2019re treated the same way as those who perhaps see a career in athletics. It\u2019s nice to have that mixture of talent and one of the beauties of the sport is that you don\u2019t know who is going to be an Olympian or not.\u201d
\nAfter\u00a0pushing his body to the limit and training vigorously throughout his career, including a stint in bodybuilding, and then boxing, the Brit is now in a place where he\u2019s happy to be staying in shape without competing. \u201cAfter athletics I went into fitness modelling, which is more about being shredded not huge so much. I needed a reason to train after I finished competing so that\u2019s why I got into it.
\n\u201cMy brother was already doing it and so I decided to go into that. I did it for two years and then retired from that and took up boxing. I had five fights, I fought Dwain Chambers in a charity match, and won.\u00a0He\u2019s a friend so that was weird punching him in the face then chilling with him after.\u201d
\nThe fitness modelling was brutal because your body is changing all the time and the diet was so tough, it was stricter than athletics and I just needed something to keep me going. Now I am putting my focus into building adults and children\u2019s capabilities.”<\/p>\n
View this post on Instagram<\/p>\n
A post shared by Inspiratus Sports District (@isd_dubai)<\/p>\n
\nWith COVID-19 restrictions halting almost all outdoor activity last summer, the kids at ISD academy are enjoying being able to compete again as restrictions are being eased.\u00a0It\u2019s so important for kids and adults to keep busy and have something to focus on. Of course we\u2019re adhering to the current restrictions but it\u2019s so good to get the kids outside and active after a tough year last year.\u201d
\nWhen things to return to normal the former world record holder hopes to ramp up\u00a0competition at ISD Athletics, with the help of his friends. \u201cThe facilities are amazing, you\u2019ve got everything you need. What I\u2019m looking to do is bring a world class set up to Dubai, I want all my athlete friends to come and compete here at the venue. I\u2019m sure we can get it done. We\u2019ve got the spring camp coming up for the kids as well so we\u2019re looking to inspire them.\u201d
\nDespite a glittering career on the track Turner it wasn\u2019t until he was in his early twenties that he realised he could reach the top. \u201cI didn\u2019t think I was going to be in the Olympics, my first ever championships was when I was 23, which was the Olympics. Before that I just wasn\u2019t good enough. These things take time and some people are born with the talent and others take longer to develop it, that\u2019s what I did. And at 23 I was just starting really and others had won loads of medals, so every journey is different. My advice to any kids would be to never give up.\u201d
\n“When I was 16 I was good, I was the quickest schoolboy in the country but then each year the hurdles get taller and I couldn\u2019t do the high ones, so people who I was beating were now beating me. Then I went off to college and there were times where I was just doing it for the sake of doing it rather than I thinking something could come of it. And it took one race for everything to come together and for me to think it could be a career.”
\nISD Athletics is holding its first Spring Camp at Dubai Sports City starting March 28th for boys and girls aged 5-18.
\nISD Athletics also offers Adult Boot Camps every Saturday at Dubai Sports City.
\nFor more information, please visit isddubai.com or call 058-285-8239.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Former Olympic 110 meter hurdler Andy Turner is once again aiming for Olympic gold, this time with the kids from ISD Athletics.
\nBased at Dubai\u2019s Sports City, the new academy is open to all ages and abilities as the academy sets out to bring world-class training and coaching to the city.
\nThree-time Olympic medallist has been in Dubai for the past three months as the academy looks to find the next athletics star using Turner\u2019s knowledge and experience to unearth and build the talent in the region.<\/p>\n
View this post on Instagram<\/p>\n
A post shared by Inspiratus Sports District (@isd_dubai)<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a passion, not just a job,\u201d he tells Sport360. \u201cIt\u2019s important for athletes to give something back and not just retire and take that knowledge with them. A mutual friend put us in touch and I was excited about coming to Dubai\u00a0it\u2019s really nice to be back involved. I\u2019ve been enjoying my time here everyone has been great to me and the way they\u2019ve set up ISD.\u201d
\nWith ISD Athletics, we are raising the bar on athletics in the UAE providing a platform for girls and boys of all levels and abilities from 5 years and up to enhance their skills and learn new ones. We also offer a pathway to pro careers and university scholarships.
\nWe have all major disciplines here: sprints, middle and long distance runs, hurdles, shot put, discus, javelin, long jump, triple jump, and high jump as well as strength and conditioning to ensure each athlete gets a well-rounded development.
\nBut isn\u2019t exclusive only for those looking to reach the Olympics.\u00a0\u00a0 The European and Commonwealth gold medallist is keen for all kids to get involved as the academy. \u201cI\u2019m trying to make it as fun as possible for the kids, I\u2019m a bit of a kids entertainer. We have to make the kids enjoy it, it can\u2019t be hard work all the time, we need to engage with them as well. Luckily we\u2019ve had some great results already in our time trials, which is great to be a part of.\u201d
\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
View this post on Instagram<\/p>\n
A post shared by Inspiratus Sports District (@isd_dubai)<\/p>\n
\u00a0
\nHaving been in Dubai for the past three months Turner has been able to cast his eye over the talent in the region and has been encouraged, with what he\u2019s seen thus far. \u201cI\u2019ve been impressed with the talent; there\u2019s a real array here. There are kids who really want to push on and become the next level, which is great because we can relate to those, having competed at the highest level. There are some kids here who are doing it just for fun, which is absolutely fine and they\u2019re treated the same way as those who perhaps see a career in athletics. It\u2019s nice to have that mixture of talent and one of the beauties of the sport is that you don\u2019t know who is going to be an Olympian or not.\u201d
\nAfter\u00a0pushing his body to the limit and training vigorously throughout his career, including a stint in bodybuilding, and then boxing, the Brit is now in a place where he\u2019s happy to be staying in shape without competing. \u201cAfter athletics I went into fitness modelling, which is more about being shredded not huge so much. I needed a reason to train after I finished competing so that\u2019s why I got into it.
\n\u201cMy brother was already doing it and so I decided to go into that. I did it for two years and then retired from that and took up boxing. I had five fights, I fought Dwain Chambers in a charity match, and won.\u00a0He\u2019s a friend so that was weird punching him in the face then chilling with him after.\u201d
\nThe fitness modelling was brutal because your body is changing all the time and the diet was so tough, it was stricter than athletics and I just needed something to keep me going. Now I am putting my focus into building adults and children\u2019s capabilities.\u201d<\/p>\n
View this post on Instagram<\/p>\n
A post shared by Inspiratus Sports District (@isd_dubai)<\/p>\n
\u00a0
\nWith COVID-19 restrictions halting almost all outdoor activity last summer, the kids at ISD academy are enjoying being able to compete again as restrictions are being eased.\u00a0It\u2019s so important for kids and adults to keep busy and have something to focus on. Of course we\u2019re adhering to the current restrictions but it\u2019s so good to get the kids outside and active after a tough year last year.\u201d
\nWhen things to return to normal the former world record holder hopes to ramp up\u00a0competition at ISD Athletics, with the help of his friends. \u201cThe facilities are amazing, you\u2019ve got everything you need. What I\u2019m looking to do is bring a world class set up to Dubai, I want all my athlete friends to come and compete here at the venue. I\u2019m sure we can get it done. We\u2019ve got the spring camp coming up for the kids as well so we\u2019re looking to inspire them.\u201d
\nDespite a glittering career on the track Turner it wasn\u2019t until he was in his early twenties that he realised he could reach the top. \u201cI didn\u2019t think I was going to be in the Olympics, my first ever championships was when I was 23, which was the Olympics. Before that I just wasn\u2019t good enough. These things take time and some people are born with the talent and others take longer to develop it, that\u2019s what I did. And at 23 I was just starting really and others had won loads of medals, so every journey is different. My advice to any kids would be to never give up.\u201d
\n\u201cWhen I was 16 I was good, I was the quickest schoolboy in the country but then each year the hurdles get taller and I couldn\u2019t do the high ones, so people who I was beating were now beating me. Then I went off to college and there were times where I was just doing it for the sake of doing it rather than I thinking something could come of it. And it took one race for everything to come together and for me to think it could be a career.\u201d
\nISD Athletics is holding its first Spring Camp at Dubai Sports City starting March 28th for boys and girls aged 5-18.
\nISD Athletics also offers Adult Boot Camps every Saturday at Dubai Sports City.
\nFor more information, please visit isddubai.com or call 058-285-8239.<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"image","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47716"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=47716"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47716\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":47717,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47716\/revisions\/47717"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=47716"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=47716"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=47716"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}