Scott Moorhouse

Q&A

• What does it mean to you being selected as a Lloyds TSB Local Hero? How will the Award help?

  Being selected as a Lloyds TSB Local Hero is a privilege and it is a great achievement to be recognised for my success so far and also for my potential looking forward. As well as being an athlete, I am also a student at Essex University and so the financial award will enable me to afford new training equipment such as clothing, javelin boots and medicine balls. Traveling to training and competitions is also a major expense and this award will also help with making those trips more affordable.

• How did you first get involved with your sport?

  I first got involved with athletics back in 2008 when I attended a talent day in Mile End, London. After a series of weekends testing at Loughborough I made it through the selection process down to the last ten who were invited onto a talent programme. After the talent programme ended I joined the Windsor, Hounslow and Eton Athletics club where I started throwing Javelin. It was such a great feeling to be pointed towards one sport to focus on, I have always been involved with playing many sports and never concentrated solely on one.

• What are your three greatest achievements?

  Coming 4th in the 2011 Senior World Championships in New Zealand.
  Silver Medalist in the under 23 World Championships 2010.
  Being invited onto a talent programme for my potential to contend for a medal in London 2012.

• Tell us about any challenges you have overcome to follow your sporting dream.

  I have had many challenges to overcome since deciding that I wanted to be an athlete, it is not just about doing your sport but it is also a lifestyle. This has meant I have had to put athletics at the centre of my life and make everything else work around it. For instance I am moving to London in the summer so I can train everyday with my coaches, this will be hard initially because I will have to make new friends and basically start a new life. Sometimes these are the things you have to do if you want to be the best you can be.

• What advice would you give to a young person considering taking up your sport? What would your top three tips be?

  Sport is all about inclusion and giving people the opportunity to be part of something, often helping people to overcome personal challenges. I would suggest to anyone who wants to be successful in sport, to take up something they enjoy and the success will follow. Success doesn't have to mean being the world champion, it can mean something more unique to each person. Also join a club, this is the best way to get started and there will always be support available to help you. Not only that but you will make a new set of friends and this is another great side to sport. Lastly, don't be afraid to try something, you never know you might be better than you thought!