Shot put star Scott Lincoln hopes to form one half of a golden British couple at this week’s European Championships. Lincoln co-captained Team England’s athletics squad at the recent Commonwealth Games, claiming bronze, and is among the host nation’s leading medal hopes at Alexander Stadium.
He is joined in the 98-strong Novuna GB & NI squad by his partner, national javelin champion Freya Jones, and hopes both can land on the podium.
First Championships Together
Lincoln said: “It's going to be the first championships we're doing together as a couple. She's definitely one to watch and it'll be exciting to stick around for the week and help her later in the week. I want to win it. It'll be a tough ask, but I don't see why not. Everyone there is beatable, so if not the win, then it’s definitely a medal I want to push for.”
He added: “I spoke with my coach, and we know that I’m one of the medal favourites, so it was about going back to setting our standards of what we wanted to achieve. When I tie my shoelaces in the morning, tie them with intent. He keeps saying to me it takes zero talent to be organised.”
Co-Captain Role
That organisation was something Lincoln was keen to emphasise in his speech to his compatriots in Glasgow as he took on a role as co-captain alongside long jumper Jazmin Sawyers, who won gold. England earned 21 medals across track and field at the Games, with Lincoln providing one of five bronzes.
He said: “I genuinely believed I was going to go and win that meet. It was an awesome privilege to be voted captain. It definitely gives you a buzz that you're leading the team and people are backing you. It's always an honour to put the England shirt on.
“I was trying to go around as much as I could and speak to people who didn't necessarily do as well as they wanted and congratulate the people that got medals out of nowhere.
“I like to think I did a good job, and I had a lot of positive things coming out about my speech to the whole athletics team. It's the first championships that I have spent with all my Aussie training partners too.”
Fresh Start in Australia
Though the 33-year-old used to train around the York area, he moved to Australia a year ago, seeking a fresh start and a new training regime.
He said: “I wanted to experience something different. I just wanted some different eyes and different ideas. I wanted to create a bit more of a buzz again. Things were a little bit stale. I was going to championships and not really performing. And I was just getting a bit upset. I just fancied a change.
“My old coach Paul (Wilson) was super supportive of it and was the first one to wish me luck. I still keep in touch and meet up regularly with him. There was no bad blood between us or anything.”
