Claudia Hollingsworth

BIOGRAPHY

Claudia Hollingsworth had a quick rise in athletics, boosting a time of 2:08 for 800m after just her second year of training. Negotiating both the turbulence of COVID, whereby competitions were sometimes cancelled, as well as injuries, at 15, she became the fourth fastest Australian junior ever. Amazingly in 2022 she was selected to compete at the senior world championships and 10 days later at the World U20 Championships. After completing her high school studies in 2023 her 2023/24 domestic season was astonishing, achieving six PBs in six races over 800m, 1500m and 3000m. The five races at 800m and 1500m were all National U20 records, improving in every race. She capped the summer season winning the National senior 800m title (PB 1:58.40 and second fastest in Australian history) and at the end of the championships being named on the Paris Olympic team.

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Claudia Hollingsworth started athletics around year 4 at primary school, allowing her to showcase her natural talent in the sport.
“My first race I ever did was at the Mt Buller Easter fun run which was approximately 6km that I completed in my Converse sneakers. I ended up coming in the top ten and questioned myself if ‘I can run 6km up and down a mountain trail in Converse, I wonder how I will go at school cross country and athletics.”
She then started competing in her house cross country and athletes and there was more success, motivating her to continue.

In year 5 she was 10th at her State XC and selected to compete at the National XC in Tasmania. The next year she made it to the Pacific School Games in the 800m and 1500m. Although she was competitive at the longer distances. “I realised I much preferred running a shorter distance and seeing how fast I could go.”

She learnt life lessons on the way in her sport.
“In year 7 I forgot to register for the state championships consequently missing out on the opportunity to race in nationals due to me being unorganised but also treating running as a hobby.”
In Year 7, at Mentone Grammar, she had met her now coach, Craig Mottram – the head of cross country and athletics. “I found real culture and fun which encouraged me to stay in the sport.”

In year 8, now 14, Claudia started competing in the Milers Club in ‘C’ grade races, but by the end of the season she had risen to ‘A’ grade. Before her 15th birthday Claudia was really getting noticed with a 2:08.01 800m in Melbourne, just weeks before COVID hit and the season was over. After a long year of lockdowns, in her first races back in late 2020 she ran 2:06, then 2:05.75. By the end of summer in early 2021, while still 15, Claudia had run the stunning time of 2:01.60, making her the fourth fastest in Australian U20 history. In April she competed in the open National 800m, placing second with 2:01.75. She had been injured twice during the year and Nationals was achieved on cross training only.

She was selected in the Australian team for the 2021 World U20 Championships, which didn’t travel to Nairobi for the Championships due to COVID. There would be more injuries in the leadup to her 2022 campaign. “I will never forget the excitement that coming back to full training gave me and although having an injury had its setbacks it reminded me of how much I loved to run and how much I wanted to perform last season.”

She won the 2022 Zatopek 1500m in a very fast 4:12.13. “I was starting to see a common trend in racing, having to make the decision between 800m and 1500m. The more 1500m races Craig convinced me to do the more I began to enjoy them and understand the tactical side behind a 1500m that I don’t seem to get as much in an 800m.”

For the 2022 World U20 Championships Claudia had to elect one race and opted for the half-mile. After Nationals she chopped her 1500m best to 4:10.61. She also obtained sufficient points to compete in the 800m at the senior world championships in Eugene where she was eight in her heat. 10 days later she travelled to Cali in Columbia to compete at the World U20 Championships where in the 800m semi-final she finished second but was disqualified after a physical contest saw her step on the infield.

Her 2022/23 season was low key winning the National under-20 middle-distance double and setting a 1500m PB of 4:07.69.
After completing her studies at Mentone Grammar School in 2023, she embarked on a record setting 2023/24 summer campaign while still only 18. In December 2023 she won the Zatopek under-20 3000m in a PB 9:29. It kicked off a summer season where she went undefeated, set records every time she ran, won the National senior 800m title and was selected for the Paris Olympics and World U20 Championships.

Hobbies: AFL, water skiing, snow skiing…Advice to your young self: Keep doing everything you love for as long as you can, you don't need to specialise in anything at a young age and never put so much pressure on yourself. Always celebrate every single win and positive outcome even if they are small because it might be a while until it happens again. Always be proud of your achievements and grateful for the journey because things don't come easy…Biggest Challenge: Competing with the older girls and trying to remember to put in perspective my age. Remembering that one race does not reflect everything I have worked for. Getting over my nerves and doubts before a race is also really challenging. The pressure I put on myself is challenging to remove however gaining more experience from racing and growing as an athlete these challenges are becoming less and less. Also trying to be an elite athlete whilst completing year 12 and trying to stay socially connected with friends outside of running…What Inspired you to pursue your sport: I like being active and driven and I am very dedicated and determined to see how far I can go.

@ 3 June 2024 david.tarbotton@athletics.org.au