Ashleigh Nelson became an athlete and sprinter to emulate her brother, himself a successful athlete: “I was desperate to just copy him in everything that he did growing up and that meant following him all the way to the Beijing Olympics. We were very competitive growing up, he was my idol but don't tell him that!”

Her career is a tribute to her resilience, her ability to change and her immense pride in everything she does. Her first Olympic selection came in Beijing in 2008, she then qualified for Rio eight years later and then again for Tokyo 2020. During a constant struggle with injury, she battled back from a potentially life changing hip operation. But in 2019, she crowned her career by winning Silver in the 4x100m relay at the World Championships in Doha.

“I had a lot of injuries. I had a lot of setbacks and I guess I went from being a girl to a woman and I learned so much about myself on that journey. Rio was smack bang in the middle of that.

“But every four-year cycle I just was like, I've changed, I've changed, I've changed. And I just developed and every four years it was almost like I was a new person, and I'd learnt all these new skills with a new mindset every year.

“I was developing, going from being in a 17-year old's body to a 30-year-old woman's stronger body, knowing how to use it more. Looking back now, it's actually really special to me. I am the woman in front of you today because of my athletics career".

“I think that my discipline is linked with my pride, therefore it's got a lot to do with self -respect. if I say I'm going to do something, I'm going to be a woman of my word and I'm going to make sure I get it done.

“For a business owner, definitely attach your pride to your discipline and that way you will get everything done. If you're anything like me with the pride levels I have, you will definitely get things done".

“My long -term vision was I wanted to be the fastest woman in the world. So, it was a very, very simple goal. I think when you are putting goals down for yourself, you need to have a short -term goal and a long -term goal and just keep it as simple and as logical as possible. I found that's the key, keep goals kind of black and white and very straightforward”.

“Throughout my career, I actually had four surgeries. The worst one was in 2017, when I had to learn how to walk again after I had hip surgery. I was only 23 or 24 and I was really upset and I didn't know how I was going to continue but I had amazing support from the people around me, but I also wanted to succeed more than I was afraid of failing.

“So, if I can pass on any kind of encouragement to business owners, it's to see things through, be proud of yourself and carry that pride with you”.

“It's just a great opportunity to look back at the sacrifices that were made, the achievements that have already happened, but also the future achievements and the opportunities for the Black community.

“I think it's a really special time where all eyes are on our community. We can help push the amazing people and the amazing athletes and business people that are coming out of the community”.

“Yeah, definitely. I've used the word pride, pride a lot within this conversation already, but I do feel an immense level of pride when I get to not just represent Great Britain, but also my heritage.  I feel like at times it can be really hard to describe because they're both as important as each other to me. When I get to kind of put on that Team GB vest and go out in front of thousands of people, I just feel an immense self-pride and happiness".

“For obvious reasons you've got Muhammad Ali who was not only a trailblazer in the ring but also outside the ring but for me a lot closer to home is Jeanette Kwakye. Jeanette was a world silver indoor medallist. She's a mum now and she's also an amazing, incredible broadcaster.

“And for me, she's just somebody that highlights how black women are transcending and paving the way for future generations because she's just wearing all these different hats, and she was phenomenal as an athlete and she's also phenomenal as a broadcaster”.

“I was the first British female in 40 years to win a medal at the European Championships. That was in 2014. I almost see that as a bit of a trailblazing moment. Dina Asher-Smiths and Daryll Neita are the only two other people who've actually won medals in the Women's 100 metres since.

“I like to think that it was a bit of an inspiring moment to show all the other British women. If I can do it and I'm just an average girl from Stoke, you can go and do it yourself, the challenge was there, and British women’s sprinting has just gone from strength to strength".

For more business inspiration from Team GB athletes, take a look at our Beyond the Podium series.