As a teenager, Leon Baptiste was a productive runner before a succession of injuries halted his rapid his rise but now, seven years since his first international crown, he is back on top of the winners' podium. The 25-year-old 200m specialist underwent knee surgery in 2005 and had failed to return to the limelight of which he had become accustomed to following a series of promising years in his youth.The Enfield and Haringey sprinter - who is also a former semi-professional footballer - has an impressive athletic CV. He was a four-time national 200m champion and two-time 100m winner during his time in the Under-20 and Under-23 ranks, as well as highlighting his European junior 100m and 4x100m relay victories in 2003 - his finest year until now.
However it wasn't until this year that Baptiste - who is based in Loughborough - finally fulfilled his bright potential with his first senior international championship medal when enormously claiming the Common wealth Games 200m title in Delhi back in October.Indeed, his first major crown since his continental victory seven years previous was all the more sweet, for Baptiste managed to bounce back from the disappointment of missing Team GB selection for this summer's European Championships in Barcelona to register his three fastest times of the year in India.
Speeding to a 20.43 lifetime-best in the semi-final, he moved to 16th on the British all-time lists and third on the national rankings for the season - an achievement which was rewarded with the promotion to 'podium-level' funding by UK Athletics, meaning Baptiste could begin life as a full-time athlete this winter."My season finished on a high, setting a new personal best on my way to winning the Common wealth Games 200m title," Baptiste explained."This did not come without struggle, most obviously not being chosen for a place in the individual 200m at the European Championships in July."
However it wasn't until this year that Baptiste - who is based in Loughborough - finally fulfilled his bright potential with his first senior international championship medal when enormously claiming the Common wealth Games 200m title in Delhi back in October.Indeed, his first major crown since his continental victory seven years previous was all the more sweet, for Baptiste managed to bounce back from the disappointment of missing Team GB selection for this summer's European Championships in Barcelona to register his three fastest times of the year in India.
Speeding to a 20.43 lifetime-best in the semi-final, he moved to 16th on the British all-time lists and third on the national rankings for the season - an achievement which was rewarded with the promotion to 'podium-level' funding by UK Athletics, meaning Baptiste could begin life as a full-time athlete this winter."My season finished on a high, setting a new personal best on my way to winning the Common wealth Games 200m title," Baptiste explained."This did not come without struggle, most obviously not being chosen for a place in the individual 200m at the European Championships in July."
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