Dynamo Diamond ready to unleash at World University Games

Imagine this: the roar of a crowd echoing through the stadium, the taste of a podium victory in your mouth and the weight of a gleaming silver medal hanging proudly around your neck. For Alec Diamond, that moment at the 2019 World University Games in Naples was a kaleidoscope of emotions and one that marked a turning point in the decathlete’s career.

Since claiming Universiade silver, Diamond has undergone an extraordinary transformation to become one of only ten Australian 8000-point decathletes en route to representing his country at the Commonwealth Games.

Fueled by his triumph and motivated by the pursuit of gold, Diamond is now preparing to return to his happy hunting ground at the 2023 edition of the World University Games in Chengdu, China next week.

“I remember after Day 1 of competition, there were three or four of us that were really close in points and fighting for medals. I got it done but it was a very stressful 1500m,” Diamond recalls.

“I didn’t feel fit at the time and had to stay within however many seconds to hold on to silver, but lucky for me, the Thai guy I was competing against couldn’t run a 1500m either!”

Conceding that the rest is “a bit of a blur,” Diamond said the experience was crucial to his development as a decathlete and has undoubtedly spurred on his trajectory.

“Naples was my first open team, and I went in with no expectation on how anything was going to go. To come out with silver was a fantastic outcome and it really helped me jump from the level that I was at,” Diamond said.

“It was a great stepping-stone between the Under 20 level and up into the Opens. It’s almost, and especially for multi-events, a perfect middle ground, so having that as a goal and something to achieve really helped me with a bit of direction in those years too.”

Having received a late call up to compete at the Commonwealth, Diamond will brings in more confidence to the Championships than ever before.

“The late call up to the Commonwealth Games came as a bit of a shock but it’s actually motivated me more,” he said.

“It’s also helped me adapt as an athlete. I had no choice but to jump into the deep end given I wasn’t preparing for that decathlon. I had no expectations, a bit like in 2019, but I decided to go in with a take-it-as-it-comes approach, and knowing that it could ultimately help me push for the World Athletics Championships and hopefully Commonwealth Games.”

While Diamond has gold on his mind, the Sydneysider will also focus his efforts on the World University Championships record of 8,380 – a mere 378 point personal best which would catapult him to number four on the Australian all-time list.

“I looked at that in 2019. That was the record so I decided then that I would try for that next time I was there. Of course, I want gold, but I also want to make use of the world ranking points as we look ahead to the Olympics next year.”

With entries yet to be released, the former Australian Catholic University student will focus inward and will trust in all of his training and guidance from coach Zsuzsanna Olgyay-Szabó  to continue his success.

“All I know is Colby (Eddowes, fellow Australian) and then one of the German athletes who has also scored over 8000 points. Outside of that I have no idea who is going to be on the start line, but it’s made me really focus on myself.

“For me I’m really just looking forward to getting out there. I always love the long jump, that’s the one I look forward to the post and I’ve probably made the most progress in javelin over the last few months.”

Diamond will be one of 34 Australian track and field athletes to compete at the 2023 FISU World University Games in Chengdu, China from July 28 – August 8.

By Sascha Ryner, Athletics Australia
Posted: 27/7/2023