The 18-year-old athlete’s rapid ascent has continued this summer, writes Emily Moss

Charlie Dobson returned home from Tampere as a world under-20 silver medallist over 200m after finishing runner-up to his GB team-mate Jona Efoloko.

“After the first two rounds of the 200m, and two consecutive PBs, I told myself I wouldn’t be happy leaving the competition without an individual medal,” the 18-year-old says.

“During the practice session before the competition started, we got a chance to try out the blocks on the track itself and I had never felt any combination of blocks and track to be as fast as this. At that point I knew I was going to run a fast time.”

The Colchester Harrier had set his sights on reaching the IAAF World Under-20 Championships and running sub-20.7. He smashed both of these targets, running 20.65 to win his heat, 20.53 to win his semi-final and 20.57 to claim silver in the final – all three times being quicker than his pre-championships best.

The teenager’s first outing in his national kit came at the Loughborough International when he surprised the seniors to win the race.

“I was a little nervous beforehand, but it felt amazing to come off the bend knowing I was ahead of everyone and that I could just keep pulling away,” he says.

“Representing Great Britain for the first time was a huge honour and it doesn’t get any less special each time I wear the GB vest.”

More long term, he hopes to represent his country as a senior and join the select group of Brits who have run sub-20 seconds over 200m.

Training at Colchester Garrison track and coached by Steve Garnham, Charlie credits having a close-knit training group, which includes his training partner, Rebecca Jeggo, for much of his success. His schedule includes three track sessions and three gym sessions a week. It is his training environment plus adopting a more holistic approach, which includes eating and sleeping well, that he feels has led to his big improvement this year, with his mum overseeing his diet, as opposed to his dad cooking him too many rib-eye steaks and homemade chips.

“Also keeping my muscles in good condition with regular sports massage sessions is important,” adds Charlie.

“I was a rather late developer, physically, so my peers improved quicker than I did in my mid-teens. I had a couple of tough years, where I just didn’t seem to make much progression, but then I grew about a foot in a year and haven’t stopped growing since!”

His favourite training session consists of blocks and a few fast 220m or 250m runs at the end. As for what he thinks about at the start of a race, he reveals: “I’ve never been one for rituals or superstitions – I just warm-up, get in the blocks and run!”