Liam Collins has been training for the World Masters Athletics Indoor Championships, in Daegu, South Korea, as a death-defying street performer up-and-down the country.
The performances doubled up as a way to pay his way to the championships, and the hard work has certainly paid off as he clinched the V35 60m hurdles crown with a remarkable time of 8.19 seconds.
Collins, heavily supported by Genetics Supplements, went into the worlds full of confidence after posting the world lead time, of 8.14, to win gold in the recent British Championships.
He said: “How I paid for my trip was through the show I do on the street as a stunt hurdler, which basically sees me jump through chainsaws and through fire with a blind fold on!
“When I knew I could go through chainsaws and fire, then I knew I could take on the rest of the world because they’re not training the way I was. It was a lot of hard work travelling across the country on top of my training, but it had to be done to make sure I got to Daegu.
“From the age of 13 when I took up the hurdles, I always wanted a world title. I was always good for my age as a junior although it got harder as an adult, and I was fourth in the Olympic trials and third in the Commonwealth so just missed out on going there.
Then I got an injury in 2006, put on a bit of weight and got into bobsleigh, but, when I turned 35 in 2014, I thought I’d get back into the hurdles and I was determined to win the worlds after finishing fifth in the final in my first Masters three years ago.
“My reaction time wasn’t great but, once I got to the hurdle, I knew I’d have a chance if I kept it clean. It was a great feeling crossing the line in front after all the hard work on the road.”
Collins returned to the UK this week with two medals around his neck after winning silver in the 200m, claiming a shock second with a time of 22.90 - just 0.12 seconds off the champion. His success in South Korea capped a great time for the athlete, who added gold in the 400m and silver in the 60m to the gold in the hurdles at the British championships.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here