GETTING FOCUSSED!

Friday, 13th August

Blue Peter cameras home in on David and presenter 

Helen Skelton at the Singapore training track

It's a busy time in singapore for Trackspeed1's DavidBolarinwa, who has had his fair share of media interviews, aged just 16, and today it was the turn of the Blue Peter cameras to focus in on the world's number one under-18 100m sprinter in Singapore - but not before the morning training session.

"Today was a far better day," said coach John Powell.  "David trained really well this morning, and at last he seems to be getting over the jet lag and disruption to eating and sleeping habits.  is cold has gone, and things were far more upbeat today.  He looked really good on the track.

"I don't think people back home in the UK have been told just how big this event is.  Singapore have been preparing for these Games for 3 years, and the city is at fever pitch now with the opening ceremony tomorrow (Saturday).

"The first ever Youth Olympic torch is doing its rounds on the island, having been carried around five continents, and will be carried by around 2400 bearers along 240 kilometres of road. We have representatives from 205 countries here, there are 18 Olympic venues, and 26 sports, encompassing over 5000 competitors and officials.  It's absolutely huge here, and it's attracted over 2000 media representatives all over the world.

"All in all it's a fantastic opportunity for David and many like him to experience a big stage, and go through the whole preparation thing at a major Games a long way from home.  After all, in 2016 we hope to be in Rio!"

David, Helen Skelton (Blue Peter) and coach John Powell 

This evening David, John, and the rest of TeamGB will attend the British High Commissioner's reception for the team, and tomorrow, although a rest day for David, he will be back at the training track to meet Lord Sebastian Coe, who has now flown out to witness the first ever Youth Olympic Games - the first new Olympic initiative in 80 years!

Above, David's interview with Helen for Blue Peter develops at the main

training venue for the Youth Olympic Games track and field athletes (below)

DAVID SOARS TO WORLD LEAD

Thursday, 5th August
David's preparations for Singapore got off to a dream start with his final two races in the UK last night (Wednesday 4th August).  Competing at an open sprints meeting at Lee Valley Athletics Centre, his lifetime's fastest 100 metres time of 10.39s took him to the summit of the world under-18 rankings.

In the first of two time trials, David clocked a speedy 10.42s with a wind speed right on the legal limit of 2.0 metres per second.  He crossed the line second behind senior international sprinter Mark Findlay, who timed 10.25s.  That too was David's fastest ever sprint, but better was to come.

In the second trial of the night, the wind dropped to a mere 0.9m/s following, and David switched into overdrive as he reeled in leader Findlay toward the line, finishing just 0.08s behind in 10.39 - the fastest time in the world this year for an under-18 athlete!

"We wanted to go to Lee Valley and execute a really good race," said coach John Powell, "we weren't too worried about time, but boy oh boy, was that a welcome bonus!  It was a huge confidence booster before Singapore - and if you consider that all this was in really quite cold conditions, there is clearly potentially more to come!"

Tonight, David returns to Crystal Palace and his training regime, but will be in front of the cameras as Blue Peter begin their documentary filming that will see cameras follow him throughout his Singapore adventure.