Four years ago, Keely Hodgkinson transformed from a relatively unknown teenager into a breakout star by securing victory at the European Indoor Championships. Now, 18-year-old Innes FitzGerald hopes to follow in her footsteps after being selected for her first British senior squad.
FitzGerald recently made headlines by smashing Zola Budd’s national under-20 indoor 3,000m record by an astonishing eight seconds. She will join Olympic 1500m bronze medallist Georgia Hunter Bell and world indoor pole vault champion Molly Caudery in a 44-strong British squad set to compete in Apeldoorn, Netherlands.
Despite her youth, FitzGerald has already garnered significant attention, not only for her athletic achievements but also for her strong environmental stance. In 2023, at just 16, she declined the opportunity to compete at the World Cross-Country Championships in Australia due to concerns over the environmental impact of long-haul travel.
In a letter, she expressed her worries about global emissions and their impact on the planet. She recalled being nine years old when the Paris Climate Agreement was signed and emphasized how, years later, emissions have continued to rise. While acknowledging that one flight alone may not make a massive difference, she insisted on pursuing a successful athletics career while minimizing her carbon footprint.
Her commitment to sustainability has earned her the nickname “the Greta Thunberg of sport.” In December 2022, she further demonstrated this dedication by choosing an arduous 20-hour journey to the European Cross-Country Championships in Turin. Her trip involved an overnight coach to Lille, followed by train travel through Paris to her final destination. To cut costs and emissions, she and her family also carried folding bikes to cycle between stations. However, after finishing fourth, she admitted that the journey had slightly impacted her performance.
Since then, she has gone from strength to strength, securing back-to-back European Under-20 cross-country titles and recording the eighth-fastest 3,000m time in Europe this year. Among those ahead of her in the rankings is fellow Briton Melissa Courtney-Bryant, who will enter the event in Apeldoorn as the favorite.
Courtney-Bryant’s chances have been boosted by the absence of key competitors. Laura Muir, who was expected to contend, suffered a calf injury at the British trials, ruling her out of the championships. Additionally, Olympic 800m champion Keely Hodgkinson is also sidelined after tearing her hamstring earlier this month.
Despite these setbacks, the British squad remains optimistic. The head coach of UK Athletics highlighted the significance of this competition, not only as a championship in which the team has historically thrived but also as a crucial opportunity for young athletes to gain experience at the senior level.
As the new Olympic cycle begins, the team features a mix of seasoned world and Olympic medallists alongside emerging talents making their debut. With this balance of experience and youthful energy, the squad aims to achieve personal bests, reach finals, and compete for medals in Apeldoorn.
