New-born son inspired Chalmers to reclaim British title

Alastair Chalmers cradles baby son Robert after winning British 400m hurdles titleGetty Images

Alastair Chalmers' son was born five days before he won Sunday's final

Brent Pilnick
BBC Sport

Alastair Chalmers says he was inspired to reclaim his British 400m hurdles title by his new-born son.

Chalmers beat Joshua Faulds by 0.31 seconds to win back the title he lost to Tyri Donovan a year ago, his sixth national crown in seven years.

His fiancée Ellie Bell gave birth to Robert on Tuesday morning - four days before the opening round of races.

Bell brought baby Robert to the Alexander Stadium for the final, with Chalmers giving his new son an emotional cuddle after his victory.

"I've pretty much not trained all week and my head's not really been in the game because I've just been thinking about other things of course," he told BBC Radio Guernsey.

"It's been lovely just thinking about my boy, but when I made the decision to go do the champs, I knew it was going to be a hard one.

"Definitely the heat on Saturday was very tricky, I felt like absolute rubbish the whole way round because my body just hasn't been firing from no training, and of course just being tired.

"But I got it together for Sunday, and when he came up, I just couldn't lose - I had to win for him, didn't I?"

Alastair Chalmers celebrates winning the British titleGetty Images

Alastair Chalmers has won every British 400m hurdles title since 2020, barring one defeat 12 months ago

The title sets up Chalmers' season well as the Olympic semi-finalist aims to win another medal for Guernsey at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow next month.

He became the first track and field athlete from the island to win a Commonwealths medal when he took bronze in Birmingham four years ago.

"I definitely want to get a medal like last time. I'm definitely capable, I've already beaten some of the top guys in the Commonwealth," he added.

"But it's on the day and anything can happen on the day, I've just got to make sure I'm in a good, healthy, fit position by then with more sleep and more recovery, and then I'll be ready to go and fight for a medal.

"There's a great depth of 400m hurdlers around the Commonwealth, so I've just got to bring my 'A' game.

"But I've got such a great team and family around me that come that race, I should be in a very good position."

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