British runner Jo Pavey is targeting a record-equalling sixth Olympic Games next year, when she will be 46.
That would match javelin thrower Tessa Sanderson’s six Olympic appearances by a British track and field athlete.
Pavey was the oldest woman to win a European Championships gold when claiming the 10,000m title in 2014 aged 40, just 11 months after giving birth.
“I forget how old I am. I’m not complacent but I will attempt to make my sixth Olympics,” she told BBC Sport.
Pavey made her first Olympic appearance at Sydney in 2000, has qualified for the British team at every Games since, and now wants to earn a place in Team GB at Tokyo 2020.
“I need to get a good qualifying time this year, and really want to start racing in early spring, but I enjoy the challenge,” she said.
“It’s a difficult ask, I’m totally aware of that, but something that’s fun to try. I love the ups and downs of the journey.”
The mother-of-two will first bid to win a place at the 2019 World Championships in Doha in September en route to going for the Games in Japan.
Pavey, who is coached by her husband Gavin, takes her children Jacob, nine, and five-year-old Emily, on training runs to help ease the stress of athletics.
“I just love running – it’s such a boost to physical and mental health. Getting out with the kids and keeping active as a family has been a great motivation,” said the Devon athlete.
“My husband has been really supportive and it’s very much a team effort. We have been able to have that family time, have never had a day’s nursery for either child, and we feel very, very lucky.
“When you are just focusing on running, you can get quite stressed and dwell on it.
“Having that pressure lifted gave me a mental freeness. It taught me a lot about being happy in life. I like to think age can be used as experience.”
