The Birchfield Harrier narrowly missed a spot in the Olympic 800m final after being unexpectedly called up to Team GB while camping in the Swiss Alps, arriving just two days before the event.
Reaching the 800m final can be even more daunting than winning a medal, given that only two runners advance from each of the highly competitive semi-finals, along with the next fastest two.
Having competed in three Olympics, Giles can relate to this challenge. However, his performance in Paris was an improvement over his previous outings in Rio and Tokyo. “I understand precisely what needs to be done and when, but sometimes I fall short,” he admitted.
“With 100 meters remaining, I felt strong and confident, energized and ready. I know I’m very capable, but occasionally my legs don’t quite match up,” Giles remarked. He plans to shift his focus to the 1500m, where he’ll face top contenders such as British world champion Josh Kerr, world number one Jakob Ingebrigtsen, and new Olympic champion Cole Hocker.
He isn’t worried about these athletes achieving some of the fastest times in history in their early and mid-20s.
“My focus will now be on the 1500m, as my speed from the 800m will help me there,” he said. “Though I’m not at my fastest in the 800m, moving up in distance should utilize my speed effectively.”
“I believe we’ve learned that achieving success is feasible. I’m on the verge of a turnaround. We must fully commit to becoming a contender in the 1500m, as training for both distances is impractical.”
“I aimed to excel this year, but illness at the European championships impeded my recovery. Despite a challenging year, I’m confident we can improve.”