Going for a Games Record

Guernsey Athletics is looking to send a squad of around 30 to the Island Games next year and Abi Galpin plans to be part of it, for a fifth time.

The sprinter and long jumper started her games career aged 16 at Gotland 2017.

"It was very different for me back then, my first sort of taste of international athletics which was very overwhelming I guess, as a 16 year old, but a great experience. To have that and then go on to the Commonwealth games stage, it was so important to be that stepping stone in between."

Galpin admits she had a rough season with injuries last year but ultimately that saw her fall back in love with the long jump.

"During Orkney obviously I couldn't finish the 200m and was at sort of a bit of a crossroads in the sport for me; lost the love a little bit with all the injuries and so I was actually just looking for something to reignite that. I just wanted to see what I could've done if I committed to long jump, so that's what I did." 

It went rather well.

"I jumped 6 metres which was sort of a stretch goal for me. I didn't know if it was possible, then to absolutely storm over that barrier was absolutely amazing and really made me love the sport again."

She's excited about the Faroes and like so many of us that enjoyed the unexpectedly hot weather of Orkney is hoping that the Faroe Islands might also buck its regular weather trends next July.

She's not decided on her distances for the sprints yet but does intend to be back sprinting and as for the long jump: "I've got my eye on the long jump record which is 5.95. I have jumped further than that this year so hopefully I can go and produce something like that at the games and snatch that record."

For up and coming athletes like 16 year old Olivia Whitmore the stories from fellow athletes is part of the draw to go to the Faroes.

 "I think it would be really cool to experience. The girls I train with, they've been a few times and say how good it is, how much fun and a good experience it is. I would like to experience that too."

Introduced to the sport through the Youth Games in 2021, she fell in love with it. Her main event is the 100m hurdles but she's also looking at the 400m hurdles, particularly with an eye on the games next year.

"I've represented Guernsey at a few competitions but none quite as big as Island Games, I'd feel quite chuffed to represent the island at a standard like that, with all of my friends as well. It's on the horizon, it's definitely in the back of my mind when we're chatting about future training."

Nic Ackermann's enthusiasm for the Island Games in Orkney last year was clear for all there to see, and coming home with a gold medal in the 400m hurdles didn't hurt either.

While on paper his quickest event at the time we spoke was the 200m, his focus is on retaining his hurdles title and seeing what he can do in the 400m too.

"I definitely want to go and retain that title and see if I can sneak in there in the 400 too. It was one of the best times of my life so I am keen to do the Faroes next year and replicate those moments and make it even better."

"In the Guernsey team we had good camaraderie, it was a really good environment but the whole games and atmosphere was quite incredible. The whole event had an aura to it that 'this is something nice to be a part of' and this feels like something memorable."

He's already looking at the games and analysing how best to prepare for it with the help of his coach and his mentor.

"I've only represented Guernsey once [at an Island Games] and it is a massive privilege to me; I'm not originally from here, I'm from South Africa, so I feel like I am giving something back to the island which is nice."

"For athletes like myself this is the next big stepping stone. Going out there every two years is a great opportunity and you get to compete against some real world class athletes so that's definitely something I'm looking forward to."