Alastair Chalmers believes he has finally earned his place among the world’s best in the 400m hurdles, and recent performances back up his claim.
The 25-year-old British champion from Guernsey is riding a wave of confidence after a strong showing at the Stockholm Diamond League, where he lined up against the reigning Olympic medallists from Paris. Though Chalmers finished fifth, the race marked a personal milestone as he competed shoulder-to-shoulder with the sport’s elite.
“I raced against three of the best athletes in history, and that was a massive privilege,” Chalmers told BBC Radio Guernsey.
“Just getting to speak to them afterwards was awesome, and getting on that level with them was great. I definitely consider myself as one of the best in the world now.”
Chalmers, who broke his personal best earlier this month, credits years of dedication, a strong support team, and consistent hard work for elevating him to this point.
“It’s taken a lot of years to get to this level,” he added.
“Hopefully I can be as consistent as possible and stay out there.”
Eyeing European and World Stage
Chalmers isn’t easing off anytime soon. His immediate focus is the European Championship in Madrid later this month, followed by an attempt to defend his British title, a crown he has impressively held for the last five years.
The 2022 Commonwealth Games bronze medallist is also setting his sights on the World Championships in September, with a clear goal in mind: reaching the final.
“It’s a dream come true travelling around the world running in Diamond Leagues, Europeans, or the Worlds and getting rare opportunities,” Chalmers said.
“I opened up my season this year in Tokyo, where the Worlds will be, and that was an amazing experience.”
Life in the Fast Lane
While the global travel schedule is grueling, including 14-hour flights for races that last under a minute, Chalmers embraces every part of the journey.
“It’s pretty wild to think you’ve travelled 14 hours for a 49-second race,” he admitted.
“A lot of people don’t understand how that affects the body, doing those long-haul flights. But it’s amazing, and when I’m done with this sport, I really hope I can look back on the opportunities I got given and the work I put in very fondly.”
Alastair Chalmers is proving that he’s no longer just a promising talent , he’s part of the global elite.