We speak to a newly crowned British 800m champion man whose hard work – mentally, as well as physically – is paying off in style

A maiden British title and automatic qualification for the European Athletics Indoor Championships concluded a dream-filled eight days of competition for Justin Davies that began with victory and a Welsh indoor 800m record at the Keely Klassic on February 15.

Coached by Martin Rush in Bath since he was 10, the 22-year-old enjoyed a breakthrough 2024 season with a substantial personal best of 1:45.37 at the Watford British Milers’ Club meeting in August. 

His 1:45.78 performance at the Keely Klassic – which ranks him seventh on the UK indoor all-time list – exceeded the pair’s expectations which were focused on achieving the qualifying standards for both the European Indoors (1:46.40) and this summer’s European U23 Championships (1:46.50). Victory at the British Indoor Championships (1:47.26) – an upgrade from his 2024 bronze – underlined his growing confidence.

Performance matters, but Davies has learned that execution isn’t everything. Without physical and mental preparation, tactics and times can be meaningless. 

“I’ve been working with a psychologist [on how I go into races] and it’s made a massive difference,” he says. “Last year I felt like I was going to be sick on almost every start line. That hasn’t happened this season and I’m almost more proud of that than of the times I’ve run.”

Having endured various injury setbacks in recent years, the University of Bath student believes his recent progress comes down to “staying injury-free and consistent”. He apologises for what he describes as a “boring answer” but – like the preparation for a race – it’s the necessary, unglamourous work behind the scenes that leads to the most special of moments. Sometimes, the race is won before the gun goes off.

“Since last summer, touch wood, things have been relatively seamless and I’ve just been able to focus on the training without that nagging feeling in the back of my mind about changing training because of a pain, and I think I’ve been quite lucky in that regard,” says Davies.

“I think it’s also about understanding what I need as an athlete. Martin and I have figured out that if I stick to 80km weeks as a maximum and follow certain prehab procedures (made possible by the addition of strength and conditioning to Davies’ training routine) we can almost mitigate any injuries.”

He has committed to the exploration of nutritional requirements for sustained and optimal performance, a process he researched then tested through trial and error. Living and training with other university athletes has also helped, he says, creating a more performance-orientated mindset that wouldn’t otherwise exist.

As a junior, Davies represented Great Britain and Northern Ireland at the World University Cross Country Championships and at the Loughborough International. The European U23 Championships in July is his primary goal for this summer but, with the backing and belief of coach Rush, he’s not ruling out the World Championships either.

This European Indoor Championships will be his first senior vest, however and a deserved recognition for his hard work and progress on and off the track. The ability to manage his start line anxiety offers a huge mental boost ahead of Apeldoorn, but anxiety still exists, nonetheless.

“Since running the time at the Keely Klassic, all I’ve been able to think about is the European Indoors,” he says. “Before then I’d think: ‘I have to run the time and I’ve got to perform at trials’, and at that point it was almost easier to deal with because it was more out of reach, but as we approached the trials I was even more anxious because I was closer to achieving what I really wanted to achieve.

“So much energy was devoted to qualifying that just making the team is such a relief in and of itself. Now I’m in this position I want to see how far up the ladder I can get. Success would be walking away knowing that I left it all on the track.”