Entering Her Olympic Era | Claudia Hollingsworth

When most 19-year-olds spend their days hopping from club to club or figuring out which career path to take, Claudia Hollingsworth is hitting major milestones that most could only dream of. 

On the cusp of her maiden Olympic Games and a chance for gold at the World Under 20 Championships in August, the teenage wonderkid has instead spent her first year out of high school breaking records, travelling the world and making an impact on the Australian running scene.

“I sort of had goals of the Olympics very early on but I never wanted to think about it too much.  I never wanted to voice it to anyone because – and it sounds silly – I’m scared of the ‘what ifs’ if it doesn’t happen,” Hollingsworth said.

“And that’s even sillier because you should just try as hard as you can and if it doesn’t work out, it is still going to be okay.”

Profoundly wise beyond her years, Hollingsworth is both confident and humble as she takes on the biggest year of her life. With the Athletics program at the Olympic Games just days away, the burgeoning middle distance runner takes it all in her stride.

“There wasn’t really a moment when I thought I could do it. Maybe Nationals when I had that win and I was selected. That was definitely a moment where I started to lean into. I thought if I don’t accept that it’s an amazing achievement, then nothing will ever be, so I took some time to appreciate the moment but I then moved forward.”

Finishing the domestic season as the second fastest Australian women’s 800m runner of all time behind Catriona Bisset at 1:58.40, Hollingsworth has spent her time since, learning the ropes of professional running under the tutelage of her long-time coach, Australian great Craig Mottram.

“I’ve been coached by Craig since I was 12, I think. He’s been amazing support and I am really believing in myself and the process. That comes from him assuring me of all those things. I trust the process that we do and trust all the training,” she said.

“I’ve been learning so much this year, but still have a lot more to learn for sure. I won’t say it hasn’t been challenging travelling around and not being with family, but I’m just trying to deal with everything circumstance by circumstance and race by race. I’m focusing on what I’m doing in the here and now, and less on the expectations that I’ve put on myself to do really well.”

With initial goals set for LA 2028 and Brisbane 2032, Hollingsworth is well ahead of her career plan, with life looking starkly different from one year ago, when she was studying for her VCE exams at Mentone Grammar School.

“I’m so excited to get to the Olympics and see how it goes. My old school principal messaged me last week to wish my good luck, and it reminded me, wow, I was just at school last year. It feels like it didn’t even happen.

“Craig was just my fun high school coach for cross country and now together, we’re both part of this really good squad, with three of his athletes going to the Olympics.”

By Sascha Ryner, Athletics Australia and Australian Olympic Committee
Posted 28/07/2024