Claudia Hollingsworth

BIO

Claudia Hollingsworth had a quick rise in athletics, boosting a time of 2:08 for 800m after just her second year of training. Negotiating both the turbulence of COVID, whereby competitions were sometimes cancelled, as well as injuries, at 15, she became the fourth fastest Australian junior ever. Selected for the 2021 World U20 team, she also made the 2022 team for the World U20 Championships in Cali. Due to her age, she had to selected one distance event and opted for the 800m.

+ + +

Claudia Hollingsworth started athletics around year 4 at primary school, allowing her to showcase her natural talent in the sport.
“My first race I ever did was at the Mt Buller Easter fun run which was approximately 6km that I completed in my Converse sneakers. I ended up coming in the top ten and questioned myself if ‘I can run 6km up and down a mountain trail in Converse, I wonder how I will go at school cross country and athletics.”
She then started competing in her house cross country and athletes and there was more success, motivating her to continue.

In year 5 she was 10th at her State XC and selected to compete at the National XC in Tasmania. The next year she made it to the Pacific School Games in the 800m and 1500m. Although she was competitive at the longer distances. “I realised I much preferred running a shorter distance and seeing how fast I could go.”

She learnt life lessons on the way in her sport.
“In year 7 I forgot to register for the state championships consequently missing out on the opportunity to race in nationals due to me being unorganised but also treating running as a hobby.”
In Year 7, at Mentone Grammar, she had met her now coach, Craig Mottram – the head of cross country and athletics. “I found real culture and fun which encouraged me to stay in the sport.”

In year 8, now 14, Claudia started competing in the Milers Club in ‘C’ grade races, but by the end of the season she had risen to ‘A’ grade. Before her 15th birthday Claudia was really getting noticed with a 2:08.01 800m in Melbourne, just weeks before COVID hit and the season was over. After a long year of lockdowns, in her first races back in late 2020 she ran 2:06, then 2:05.75. By the end of summer in early 2021, while still 15, Claudia had run the stunning time of 2:01.60, making her the fourth fastest in Australian U20 history. In April she competed in the open National 800m, placing second with 2:01.75. She had been injured twice during the year and Nationals was achieved on cross training only.

She was selected in the Australian team for the 2021 World U20 Championships, which didn’t travel to Nairobi for the Championships due to COVID. There would be more injuries in the leadup to her 2022 campaign. “I will never forget the excitement that coming back to full training gave me and although having an injury had its setbacks it reminded me of how much I loved to run and how much I wanted to perform last season.”
She won the 2022 Zatopek 1500m in a very fast 4:12.13. “I was starting to see a common trend in racing, having to make the decision between 800m and 1500m. The more 1500m races Craig convinced me to do the more I began to enjoy them and understand the tactical side behind a 1500m that I don’t seem to get as much in an 800m.”
For the 2022 World U20 Championships Claudia had to elect one race and opted for the half-mile. After Nationals she chopped her 1500m best to 4:10.61.

Hobbies: AFL, water skiing, snow skiing…Advice to your young self: Not to compare myself with others,
whether that is at training, in racing or outside athletics. Remember the age I am, and be satisfied and proud of what I have achieved so far and not to dwell on the negatives or the past. Not to put too much pressure on myself and enjoy every part of the journey of my career from the good to the bad, learning from mistakes & grow as an athlete…Biggest Challenge: Competing with the older girls and trying to remember to put in perspective my age. Remembering that one race does not reflect everything I have worked for. Getting over my nerves and doubts before a race is also really challenging. The pressure I put on myself is challenging to remove however gaining more experience from racing and growing as an athlete these challenges are becoming less and less.

@ 10 July 2022 david.tarbotton@athletics.org.au