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How a family holiday inspired Matt Stonier to secure a 'shock' place at the Commonwealth Games (VIDEO)

Matt Stonier was not expecting to compete at the upcoming Commonwealth Games, but a recent family holiday helped secure his place at Birmingham 2022.

The Team England middle-distance runner spent time away from the UK in South Africa and the change in environment proved fruitful for the 20-year-old.

"I spent four weeks in South Africa during Easter but that was literally on a family holiday,” Matt explained.

"I think it was such a good escape from intense training to just being on my own in a new environment, not really stressing or worrying about specific sessions.

"The change of scenery allowed me to relax and just run. I know it doesn't sound too scientific or special, but I think a lot just clicked from a good, solid winter's work.”

The change evidently did Stonier well. He’s enjoyed a strong season so far, including a shock victory in the Nike Emsley Carr Mile and also making his Diamond League debut in Birmingham back in May.

"From the start of the season, I didn't think I would make it at all [to the Commonwealth Games] and then after a couple of races I thought I'll either be really lucky to go or quite unlucky not to go,” he continued.

With the Games now under a week away, the Loughborough University Geography and Sport Science student is willing to push his body to the limit in the heats in order to reach the final.

"I'm not going in with the greatest expectations because the line-up is so strong. To get into the final would be incredible.

"I'm sure for some people they might go into the heats knowing that they can race at 85-90 per cent. I'm fully prepared to go and give 100 per cent in there.

"If I'm on the floor at the end whilst other people are jogging around me then so be it. I'll do anything to try and get into that final.”

Loughborough’s dedicated 2022 Commonwealth Games website features all the latest news, videos, and medal tables from Birmingham.

Notes for editors

Press release reference number: 22/136

Loughborough is one of the country’s leading universities, with an international reputation for research that matters, excellence in teaching, strong links with industry, and unrivalled achievement in sport and its underpinning academic disciplines.

It has been awarded five stars in the independent QS Stars university rating scheme, named the best university in the world for sports-related subjects in the 2022 QS World University Rankings and University of the Year for Sport by The Times and Sunday Times University Guide 2022.

Loughborough is in the top 10 of every national league table, being ranked 7th in The UK Complete University Guide 2022, and 10th in both the Guardian University League Table 2022 and the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2022.

Loughborough is consistently ranked in the top twenty of UK universities in the Times Higher Education’s ‘table of tables’ and is in the top 10 in England for research intensity. In recognition of its contribution to the sector, Loughborough has been awarded seven Queen's Anniversary Prizes.

The Loughborough University London campus is based on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and offers postgraduate and executive-level education, as well as research and enterprise opportunities. It is home to influential thought leaders, pioneering researchers and creative innovators who provide students with the highest quality of teaching and the very latest in modern thinking.

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