Twenty questions for Steven Gardiner. (interview October 2020)

Steven Gardiner, photo by World Athletics

Stuart Weir interviewed Steven Gardiner in October 2020. Here is the 20 questions that Steven answered, one wonders how many questions that Stuart actually asked Steven, but that is beyond my pay grade.

Well, enjoy the interview.

Twenty questions for Steven Gardiner. (interview October 2020)

How did you start track and field?

I started in 2012 in high school. My first ever coach was Pastor Anthony Williams.

I read that originally you wanted to run 100 but had to run 400. Is that true?

When I first went there to train, coach Williams asked me what event did I want to do. I said 100 and 200 but he said: no, let’s try 400. So here I am in the 400.

2018 Zurich DL, Stuart Weir with Steven Gardiner, photo by Stuart Weir

In Beijing 2015 and Rio 2016 you reach the semi-finals, were you expecting more?

Of course, I was disappointed. I wanted to make the final. I was kinda upset but I didn’t let it get the better of me. Rio was my first Olympics but I realized that there was another major championship in a year – the World Championships in London – and I focused on that. But I learned things from the Olympics. I knew what I had to do in London.

What are your memories of the 2017 Worlds?

My aim for London was to make the podium, whatever medal I would get. I got silver. London was a good experience, making my first final. I was happy that I finally broke the semi-final barrier and made it to the final. I also set a national record. In the final when I realized I had a chance to get a medal, I just kept going and kept going. My highlight was winning my first ever individual medal.

You improved a lot 2017 to 2019. How did that happen?

I would put a lot of it down to coaching because I changed coaches after the 2016 Olympics and moved to Florida to work with Gary Evans. Also maturity and growth because I turned professional at 18 and was only 21 at London 2017

Steven Gardiner,

Do you mind which lane you are in?

I like to run in the middle of the track. I don’t like the outside, running blind. I like to see someone.

Steven Gardiner, photo by World Athletics

In 2019 you won every 400m race? Was there any particular reason why you were so dominant?

I work hard in training and when I get in a race I just want to do it one more time and have fun. Everyone wants to run fast all the time. I just tried to go out, give it my all and hope to come out on top. It was a good season.

What were your expectations going into the World Championships in Doha 2019?

I went there to do my best and to give my all. I was feeling very confident. After the semi-final I felt good and I was thinking: “do you know what, I could win this” and I did. The last 150 in the final was where I made my move. I try to get a good start and when I’m coming towards the home straight, that’s the time to make my mark and bring it home.

Doha 2019, Steven Gardiner, photo by You Tube

How was your experience of Doha?

Because I had been to Doha before, four times, I knew what to expect. Most people had never been and had not competed in that kind of temperature and atmosphere; but for me, having been to Doha before, it was just normal.

Steven Gardiner, photo by World Athletics

You finished 2019 as world champion and would have been a favourite for the Olympics? Was it frustrating that the Olympics were postponed?

Like everyone else I was looking forward to the Olympics but then they were postponed. I didn’t worry too much because I just thought there would be extra time to prepare. I see 2021 as a blank sheet of paper and I want to go out and do again what I did in 2019.

Do you like relays – do you have a favorite leg?

I enjoy running relays. Compared to the individual where all the pressure is on one person, in a relay it is shared between four people. It’s nice to be part of a team running together. My preferred leg would be third or perhaps first. I particularly enjoyed the World Relays in Bahamas, running in front of a home crowd. Some of the people have never seen us run before in person. So it’s an opportunity for them to come out and support us. It gives you more energy when you’re in front of your home crowd

What about mixed relays?

I enjoyed it at the World Relays, Bahamas 2017. It was my first time that doing a mixed relay and I always wanted to do one. It was a little strange to hand the baton to a girl, not a guy, but was fun. I wasn’t expecting to have a female starting with me. I think it’s a good idea to have mixed relays in world championships. Some countries don’t have four men or four women so it gives them the chance of a medal

How has 2020 been for you? How much have you been able to train as normal?

The year has been very weird but we found ways to substitute what we could do for what we would normally be doing. All the tracks closed and we had to go back to using the grass like we do in the fall. Some days we just did mileage on the bike as a substitute for work on the track.

You’ve run five times this year but no 400s? What has been your approach to competition this year?

To start with, because of covid the schedules were canceled. When we realized that we couldn’t go to Europe, we just looked for some events in the US and decided to leave the 400 to 2021.

10.35 is a pretty good time for 100m!

It’s very rare to see me in the 100m. I wanted to do a 100m just for training but also because it was an off year with no championship, I decided to throw out a 100m in there to see where I was at. I think my last 100m was in 2015 and I wanted to see if I could improve on my time. [He ran 10.71 in Athens, GA, 21 March 2015]. My start is not great. But I’d like to try running a few 100s some year to see that I could do!

Might you run more 200s?

The 200 is my first love.

Is doubling up at a championship 200, 400 possible?

It would be a lot of work. Right now I can’t say whether I would like to do it. Perhaps the time will come for it.

Describe a typical training week.

I train four days a week – Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday. I’m in the weights room three days – I love weights, trying to get stronger every year. Practice is fun, it’s not too serious and we laugh and joke around but we still get the work done. I like it that way. Monday is always a hard day with a lot of running – 250s, 350s, broken runs. Maybe before a meet we would do a race model. In this time of the year [fall] we do repeat runs and longer runs. That is always the hardest part of the year but I do it because I know it’s going to help in the long run later in the season. During the season the runs tend to be much shorter 200, 300 even 150.

What do you like to do away from the track?

I love to sleep, spend time with the family. Eat good food. That’s about it.

Do you have any religious faith?

My family is Christian. As I said, my first coach was a pastor and I lived with him so every Sunday we went to church and every Wednesday we’d be in Bible study. I thank God every day for all the blessings I have received. If you had asked me in High School if I thought it would be possible for me to be doing what I do now, I would’ve said no – so I’m thankful to God for all of the blessings and all the good stuff in my life.

2020 races (Source Worldathletics)

100 Metres

200 Metres

300 Metres