Charlie Dobson: "To compete for England at a home games would be special"
Colchester speedster Charlie Dobson admits sending a home crowd into raptures at Birmingham 2022 would surpass even his wildest sprinting dreams. Charlie, who honed his 400m and 200m craft at Colchester Harriers and is now studying at Loughborough University, is one of Great Britain’s hottest young stars of the track.
Share this story
Charlie is eyeing up a place in Team GB’s 4x400m team for this summer’s Olympic Games - having recently been selected for next month's IAAF World Athletics Relays - but thinks representing Team England on home soil would be just as special. The 21-year-old, who is in his second year studying Aeronautical Engineering, said: “The Commonwealth Games is definitely something I think about. That’s another year after the Olympics, so that’s next year’s aim. To represent Team England as well, would be insane.
“It being a home Games would make it even better. To compete for Team England at a home Games – that would be something special. Balancing my degree with training is hard work and challenging, but it’s fine. It’s got difficult with COVID-19 interfering at the minute, but I’m getting the work done. It’s inconvenient – but it’s great.”
Charlie's athletics career is powered by a partnership between Entain – owner of Ladbrokes and Coral – and with SportsAid, set up in 2019 and supported by Paralympic legend Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson.
The investment promotes grassroots sport and the funding provided for training, travel, equipment and mentoring is helping Charlie realise his sprinting potential.
The Essex ace studied at both St Benedict’s Catholic College and Colchester Sixth Form College before embarking on a degree at Loughborough, where he is also part of the GB Futures programme.
He smashed the BUCS – British Universities & Colleges Sport – Championships 60m indoor record last year and is well on the way to emulating those exploits at senior level. Charlie thinks an extended stay in Loughborough could hold the key to further success.
“I’ll probably be up in Loughborough for a while, but I try and get down [back home] as often as I can. Training’s all going really well. I stayed away from indoors this year to keep my body safe, but it’s going well and I’m looking forward to the outdoor season.”
Entain is proud to be championing the next generation of British sporting heroes by providing talented young athletes with financial support and personal development opportunities in partnership with SportsAid. Please visit entaingroup.com/entain-foundation to find out more!
