Derham looks ahead to 2012 after Beijing

12:43pm Friday 5th September 2008

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ZOE DERHAM believes her Olympic experience in Beijing will put her in good stead for future international competitions - including the London Games in 2012.

The 27-year-old hammer thrower who grew up in Charfield and Yate returned to the country last week after being part of Great Britain’s best ever Olympics.

She revealed to the Gazette that she was suffering from a virus when she missed out on reaching the final in the Bird’s Nest Stadium but believes after her first Olympic experience, she now feels more comfortable on the biggest stage.

After throwing 67.27 metres, the second biggest by a British woman, in order to qualify for Beijing, Derham was hopeful of breaking that record or failing that reaching 65 metres, but she finished 19th in her pool with a throw of 64.74 metres.

Speaking about her performance, she said: “I was not ecstatic but I was not displeased either.

“From an international point of view it was one of my better competitions as I am starting to feel more settled with the other competitors and competing a bit more.

“I use to tend to panic and make stupid mistakes, and although I did not throw massive metres I felt I coped with it better.

“It was something you need to experience. The atmosphere was fantastic but it wasn’t anything I wasn’t expecting.

“It was similar to the Commonwealth Games and other championships but it was something I needed to do for future.”

Derham added: “People have been reasonably pleased, my coach (Lorraine Shaw) and my parents are proud and pleased with what I achieved.

The former Yate Athletics Club Member also felt she could have given a better performance had it not been for a virus she picked up in the Olympic village two days before the competition.

“I would like to think I could have done better,” said Derham.

“You still have to compete, it’s just another added thing I could’ve done without.”

“But in a way it could have been a good thing because I was not over nervous I was just concentrating on getting it out of the way and go home and going back to bed.”

Former Kind Edmund Community School pupil Derham is currently resting but will be back training in two weeks’ time with the long-term aim of representing Great Britain for her home Olympics in four years.

She said: “I’ll put in a lot of hard work to try and break the British record and qualify for the World Championships next year and give a good account of myself.

“I’ve got a four year plan now towards 2012 with different steps along the way, lots of different championships and goals to reach.”