Sophie Hitchon Diary - Day One

And the 20-year-old former Ivy Bank pupil is writing an exclusive diary from her preparations at a warm-weather camp in Seoul, as well as the games in Daegu.

The World junior hammer champion, and senior UK record holder, was part of the 67-strong GB squad that flew out on Wednesday, and will be delivering updates on how her training is progressing, before the action begins for real on August 27th.

Sophie Hitchon hopes to set a new UK record after a season where she has established herself as the UK number one, winning the AVIVA National Championships and Trials in Birmingham at the end of July, to earned the right to be selected for the Worlds.

Sophie is the only British hammer thrower to make the B standard - twice - the latest being her British record mark of 69.59m, set on her way to the bronze medal at the European Under 23 Championships in Ostrava.

Day One

We arrived at about 11pm Korean time last night, the travel was very long, we had an eleven hour flight to Soul then a four hour wait, another plane then a two hour bus journey, so was ready to go to bed when we arrived.

The place is a lot like Japan with very tall buildings and neon signs. There is a shopping mall attached to the hotel and a Starbucks next door so it’s very much like London.

I have answered a few questionnaires this morning so the medical staff can monitor us for jet lag and dehydration. I have my first session this afternoon it will only be a light warm up and some easy throws just to get adjusted to the climate and recover from the travel.

It is midday here so just going for lunch.

Sophie Hitchon