Jake Wightman, the 2022 1500 meters World Champion, warned that another injury could end his athletics career, prompting him to relocate to Manchester for better access to physio support.
Jake Wightman has revealed the solution he has resorted to that will help him overcome his injury struggles if he is to get back to the top of the 1500 meters running game with the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028 in sight.
The 2022 world champion missed the Paris Olympics after suffering an harmstring injury. His body has repeatedly betrayed him since he famously struck 1500m gold in Eugene as a serious foot injury wrecked his 2023 season.
"If I have another big injury or setback, I'm not sure I can come back again as it would be my body telling me that 'this is it," said the 30-year-old in an exclusive interview in the October issue of AW.
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In a bid to get his body back to shape, Wightman has made some changes. He has moved from Teddington in South London to Manchester. He will continue to be coached by his father, Geoff, but the move is primarily geared towards being closer to his physio, Alex O'Gorman.
"My dad's training works for me. It gets me fit. I just need to work on being able to withstand it in the current state relating to my age and body. I'd still love to be based in Teddington, but for the remainder of my career I've got to make some changes," he said.
Wightman said he still has unfinished business on the track, setting his sights on making it to the Los Angeles Olympics 2028, although he is also making plans for what he will do with his life beyond athletics.
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"If you do the same thing again and expect the same results, it's the definition of insanity so I'm excited to move and looking forward to the change of scenery," Wightman explains.
"I hope in a year's time, I can look back and know that this was the right decision to make. I needed to do something different as my body is getting problems too often.
"Because I have seen enough glimpses that I'm still the athlete that I believe I am, I want to make sure I have a career where I still have chances to show that."