Liverpool native and upcoming athletics star Sam Lunt sat down with Merseysportlive to discuss his career and aspirations ahead of his British Athletics debut at the World Athletics Relays 2025.
Sam comes into the tournament as the current fastest British Junior in history over 600m indoors, clocking a 1:17.68 time to make him, not only the fastest ever u20 but, the ninth fastest ever senior GB athlete in the all-time indoor 600m category.
His call up was announced by British Athletics on the 18th of March 2025 ahead of the tournament in Guangzhou, China from the 10th-11th May 2025, and he’s revealed how ready he is for the challenge.
Sam, it’s your debut senior call up for British Athletics, how proud of a feeling is that?
“It’s a massive privilege to be there, I didn’t expect it to get that call up especially still being a teenager and getting that senior call up, it’s a massive privilege. I’ve been through the junior program with Team GB, you know the under 18s, the under 20s so now to lead up to that senior program is what I’ve been dreaming about for the past few years seeing the likes of big names, local names, like KJT in that senior squad so hopefully go out there and make a name for myself, enjoy the experience and just try take it all in.”
I’m sure it’s a very nerve-wracking thing to be called up for the senior team, its different like you said you’ve been through the youth programs so how are you feeling ahead of the tournament? Does it feel like a natural step up or do you have a bit of hesitation but still backing yourself?
“Obviously it’s a lot of pressure to come into that sort of environment because it’s that next step up to the likes of the Olympics, the commonwealth games but it is that sort of pathway which has just been leading up to it, so it feels right like it should be happening in this way, but when I get there it will be a little like pressure, but obviously I’m used to it with the likes of the under 20 world championships, under 20 European championships, I’ve performed there, so I think I’ll just be taking that mindset in. I’ll be trying to just enjoy it, I haven’t got that much expectation to come in, it’s not like I’m an Olympic champion coming there, there’s not a lot of eyes on me, or I don’t know there might be there might not be, so it is literally just take it all in and take it with every stride I can.”
🗣️"He was never catching me!"
Sam Lunt, David Race, Jake Minshull and Charlie Carvell – take a bow 👏#Jerusalem2023 #WhereItStarts pic.twitter.com/6P4sJ8vLnt
— British Athletics (@BritAthletics) August 10, 2023
In terms of athletes from Merseyside is KJT someone that you look to as a sort of idol?
“Yeah definitely, I mean obviously we don’t have a ton of stars coming out of the sort of Merseyside area for athletics and one big thing She’s known for is being from Merseyside and being a role model, something that I want to aspire to be is that role model of Merseyside and that big name and ‘that Sam Lunt where’s he from? Merseyside’ and it’s just being that role model and that sort of main person.”
Being called up itself is a special feeling but how special is it to be able to represent Liverpool and Merseyside? And the fact that there’s a potential for you to become the face of Merseyside athletics?
“It’s brilliant, hopefully in the coming years starting from hopefully China I can be that sort of pioneer for Merseyside athletics, make that name and carry on what KJT has sort of started and just represent Merseyside, show everyone what Merseyside is about and try put us on the map a little bit more than we currently are and hopefully be mentioned in the same sentence as some of those Merseyside legends like KJT and even outside of athletics like Steven Gerrard and be amongst those sort of names and just push it up as much as I can do.”
So, it’s safe to say you have big aspirations in the future?
“Yeah definitely, I hopefully want my name to transcend athletics like the likes of Mo Farah, Usain Bolt, Dina Asher-Smith where you think of athletics, even if you don’t watch it much you can name them and hopefully that’ll be me one day.”
You’re about two weeks out from Guangzhou, do you feel as though you’re as prepared as you can be to go out there and perform?
“Yeah definitely, towards the end of the camp we wrapped up with some sort of time trials and how we want to run the race and I’m running faster than I ever have, hitting PB’s by a few seconds. So yeah fully confident going into that sort of championships, in about two weeks we fly out to Hong Kong to have another sort of holding camp to acclimatise to it, so I’ll be surrounded by that senior environment, so taking it all in and hopefully train with them, get some sessions in and hopefully be given the chance to run and leave everything out there on that track, all I need is that one opportunity to show my talents and take it from there.”
Is there anyone in the senior team or going with you that you’re looking to as a sort of guide?
“My training partner Josh Faulds also got a call up so hopefully we can go over there and learn from each other, but probably the main guy would be the group leader for the 4X400m relay and coach Martyn Rooney, he’s been there at the likes of the London 2012 Olympics so he’s been that sort of person that’s guided me through the development phase and I’ve just looked to him. He knows what I need to do when I’m out there so look to him for as much advice as possible.”
Sam began his athletics journey at 14 years old with the support of his grandad and has gone from strength to strength, holding multiple records including in the u20 and u17 British 400m hurdles event.
Following progression through the youth system he will now be competing in the senior men’s 4X400m relay alongside established athletics stars such as Alex Haydock-Wilson and Charlie Dobson.
It’s also fair to say he won’t be short on supporters during his venture to Guangzhou with an outpour of well wishes coming through when he announced the call up on his Instagram.
One such came from coach Andy Fraser who commented: “Couldn’t happen to a nicer guy, and it is a reward for the commitment and hard work he puts in behind the scenes.”
In the build-up to the LA 2028 Olympic Games, Sam has made clear he aims to be amongst the travelling team to establish himself as an Olympian.
The competition will be available to follow via World Athletics Watch.
*disclaimer: broadcast information may be subject to change, with updates provided on the World Athletics Relay Guangzhou 2025 website*
(Featured image: Sam Lunt at event – image taken from his Instagram with permission from manager Tom Bosworth)
