25.03.2009

Ross on fast track to Berlin

When Josh Ross crossed the line to win the men’s 100m in Brisbane at the weekend, it was more than just a sixth national title he took home.

For Ross, the win marked an emphatic return to the top of the sport he almost left for good just months ago.

On Sunday the 28-year-old’s comeback gained further momentum, being named in a squad of five athletes to contest the men’s 4x100m relay at the Berlin world championships in August.

It was a whirlwind weekend for Ross but his return to the national stage has been a long time coming.

After taking out four consecutive national titles in the blue riband sprint from 2004 to 2007, Ross withdrew from the Osaka world championships in 2007 and was all but lost to the sporting wilderness.

“(2007) was the worst year of my life, it just feels like a whole blur to me,” Ross said in Brisbane at the weekend.

“I didn’t even watch the Olympics, I hardly watched nationals, I just didn’t even want to smell the track but I found my mojo and went away for a while and thought about things and I love the sport and came back and it’s always been inside of me.

“I was a bit of a mess but it’s made me stronger mentally so I can’t complain.

“For a while I wasn’t enjoying life so it was just a matter of finding myself as Josh Ross.”

The road to redemption has not been an entirely solitary journey for the Sydney-born star, who now trains in Melbourne and credits coach Adam Larcom and training partner Aaron Rouge-Serret as two of the major influences behind his return.

“When I went to Beijing last May I didn’t have a coach and I saw Adam at a relay camp and approached him and said, ‘do you mind if I come down for two weeks and give it a go and see what happens?’” Ross said.

“I didn’t even have a place to stay when I went to Melbourne and he’s helped me out so much financially and put a roof over my head, he’s been a big help with my confidence and just getting my mind back so he’s played a big part.

“It’s just been a matter of finding the right way and the right atmosphere for myself. If you’re not comfortable and settled with the coach you’re with there’s no use being there so I was just gong on a personal journey and finding what was right for me and I’ve found that.

“We’ve been training like animals all season and it’s a great set-up and a great atmosphere and it’s very professional.”

Despite disappointing runs in Sydney and Melbourne earlier in the season, finishing fourth and eighth respectively, Ross never doubted his ability to return to the top and drew confidence from his form on the training track.

Written off by many, Ross quietly regained the confidence to at last post his sought-after win.

“I always knew in the back of my mind that I’m better than everyone, that I am the best,” he said.

“When you start running some good times in training and you beat Aaron a few times in training, he’s been the in-form runner all season and once you beat him once or twice you start to get more confidence back,” Ross said.

“Once I beat him in training I just had to reproduce it on the track and a few times I didn’t do that, but today I did.”

While much of the hard work has been set out on the track, some of the most important gains have been made inside Ross’ own mind.

After a dark few days the Jump Start to London athlete now has the confidence to again face up to the nation's best.     

“I’ve been trying to fight my demons all season, trying to open up the mind again; that’s where it’s all at, in the mind,” he said.

“(It’s been) a lot of hard work and just self-talk, believing in myself again. I write little messages on the palm of my hand before I run and even on my protein containers at home; ‘you’re the best, you’re number one, no one can beat you.’

“It’s just about getting positive messages back in your mind again. You lose a lot of confidence throughout the season getting smashed by everyone but I just found it today and luckily it’s come on the right day.”

It’s a sign of just how far Ross has come that he is now looking to the international circuit and beyond in the next chapter of his career.

“I miss Europe, I miss the smell of competition, I miss competing with the world’s best and the crowds and everything,” he said.

“I really miss it and I’m glad I do miss it because for a while there I didn’t (care) about it.

“It would have been a waste (to give up), I believe I haven’t even reached my potential yet. I’ve just got to keep building, keep training.   

Where that potential can take him is now anyone's guess.