Written by Trackandmemes, March 24, 2022
I started athletics at the age of 7. My name is Eddy Leech and I am 21 years old. I am a 400m runner licensed at Annecy Haute Savoie Athletics, in a region not far from Switzerland. I also work in a company to get some experience before I start a Master. I have the chance to work in this establishment which allows me to have flexible hours to ensure my trainings.
I was told "Eddy Leech... Great hope of the region on 400m. He participated in the European 4x400m Championship last season alongside Ludovic, David and Theo! We don't often talk about him, but he deserves it.
It was the public that demanded to know you more. What do you think is the reason for this?
On social networks, I post less than the others, or there are maybe less articles... It's according to the performances too, so the more you have high performances like Ludovic OUCENI, the more people follow you. It's true that we don't see a lot of information about me, but it's cool if it's the public that asked to know me.
How did your selection with the v4 Team go?
It was my first European U23 Championships. When I arrived there, in Estonia, there was also David Sombé, who is not part of the V4 Team. We all trained together. But there were also more personal trainings for those who wanted to train individually. We all went there with the same objective; to give our best and to go for a title. I only ran the qualification in the series. Ludovic replaced me for the final. It went very well, the atmosphere was good. It's a really close team.
For my first European junior championship, with David, we had a week where we met in Reims and we trained by doing relay passages. But for the selection with the V4 Team, we went directly to Estonia. As our relay was the last week of the championship, we were able to train together throughout this event, maintaining our form. Ludovic was also racing individually over 400 meters, so he was quite focused and took the opportunity to do some sessions on the side.
Your best memory that you had the opportunity to build with your teammates in competitions?
One of the best memories with my training group is the French Cup of Relay. It is a competition where we do 4X200M, 4X400M, ... I was able to get a medal with my training group on the 4x400m, 4x400m mixed ... The first medal I had with my club and my training group is from 2018, at the Coupe de France de Relais. We were French champion on 4x400m with a new club record in 3' 15' 15. It is one of the best memories because it is the first, and therefore the most important. It has impacted the fact that we are now a good training group. This Cup is a competition that awards medals of French champion to athletes who do not have the chance to have them individually. These are beautiful medals.
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In training, when you are in this kind of situation, what makes you want to continue?
I think there are several things that keep me on track and keep me moving forward... Having a particular goal, for example, like a selection, or a French championship. The objective defined with the coach for the season. Personal success also comes into play, so push your limits and see how far you can go. And finally, to make your entourage proud, your family, who see that you work hard to try to reach certain objectives by giving your best to succeed or go as far as possible.
But during the sheer pain of training, like a lactic session, I try to clear my head. I ask myself deep down why it hurts like this, and that's where having a goal is important. I clear my mind and then I tell myself that yes it hurts, but you have to get back up and start running again. Motivation is important. Without a goal, it's too hard.
A place where you dream of training and why not compete?
United States. I think track and field in the United States is a sport that is more watched. So competing there, and training with their facilities would be more interesting for me. If I had to choose a city, I would say Los Angeles.
Do you have any future projects in and out of athletics?
I would like to take a Master's degree in financial markets. As for athletics, I would like to change my training group by going abroad to the United States. I'm looking into it for next year. It would allow me to learn English, and to see something else.
In France we say financial market, but in the United States, they call it MBA, studies focused on economics. To get into financial market studies, you would have to enter a big college, and it's harder to get into a big college because you have to have good sports and good grades.
*Thanks to my eyes, David Dufour, for spotting Eddy Leech*
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