Janet Richard achieved some excellent results despite a long injury lay-off. Photo: Antonella Chouhal

In athletics, perhaps more than any other sport, injuries tend to be the determining factor in one’s career.

Success is all down to the health of an athlete’s body and muscles.

It is why an injury can be devastating, forcing athletes sometimes to write off a whole season. And it is why the achievements of 16-year old sprinter Janet Richard over the past few months, which came despite an ill-timed injury, are all the more admirable.

“Yes, it was quite challenging, both mentally and emotionally not to mention physically,” she admitted, talking about her experience this year.

“The injury came at a very bad time as I was training for the European Youth Olympic trials in Baku and so my training sessions were very important.

“On a number of occasions I had to stop halfway through my sessions because I would start feeling pain in my hamstring and this would really frustrate me as I am not one who enjoys training less than I meant to.

“This would really get to me emotionally and I would get very upset. Though I did my best to get it treated, the pain persisted and I ended up missing out on the Youth Olympic Trials even though I had already qualified for the competition.”

This year was quite challenging, both mentally and emotionally, not to mention physically

The fact that at the same time she was preparing for her Matsec exams with the inevitable pressure that this brings with it, didn’t help.

“At the time I was also preparing for the National Championships,” she added.

“I also had to miss out on these as I was still not at my best. This was very difficult for me but I still went to the track to support my fellow athletes.”

The injury prevented Richard from achieving her two main goals of the season – representing Malta at the European Olympic Trials in Baku and becoming the national champion at 400m. So, it is remarkable that her season can still be considered a success.

One of her most impressive performances came in the 2014 FISEC Games where she won the gold medal in the 400m, running the distance in an impressive 56.38.

“Obviously, I was very happy but mostly surprised as I was not expecting to run the time that I did,” she said.

“This result came at exactly the right moment since my season was not going as planned and this really motivated me.”

During those same Games she also won silver in the 200m.

Richard also made the trip to Tbilisi in Georgia for the Third League of the European Team Championships. There, despite being the youngest member of the Maltese squad, she incredibly managed to secure maximum points for the team after winning her heat and being declared winner of the 400m race.

Notwithstanding the suspicion that her status as overall winner of the event was due to an official mix-up, victory in her heat was still an encouraging result for an athlete who was expected to make the trip largely to gain experience.

“Winning that race was one of my proudest moments. I could not have been happier, as it was so unexpected,” she recalled.

This capped a season that also included participation in the World Junior Championships in Eugene, USA. Now, however, her thoughts are wholly focused on next season.

“Next year is a very important one for Maltese athletics as there are many major international competitions in particular the 2015 GSSE in Iceland and the 2015 European Team Championships in Azerbaijan which are to be included in the inaugural European Games,” Richard said.

“I am also training to qualify for the 2015 IAAF World Youth Championships which are to take place in Colombia. I hope to gain automatic qualification for this competition.”