Bondy to run in Moscow

Congratulations to Bond University student, Alex Beck, who will run at the 2013 International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) World Championships in Russia this month.

Beck, 21 is a postgrad student, part of the Bond Elite Sport Program (BESP) and a graduate of Bond's Exercise and Sports Science Program. He will represent Australia in the men's 4x400m relay held in Moscow in August.

Alex is one of twenty-five athletes who made the automatic selection, due to his outstanding performance at the Qantas Australian Athletics Championships in Sydney and was named Bond's 2012 Sportsman of the year.

Beck was born and bred on the Gold Coast and has been running for about ten years now. He was never an outstanding athlete, but credits hard work as being his best attribute so far in his career.

“I just started at school, I was very lucky that one of my junior school teachers saw me run and offered his time to coach me for a little bit.

I owe a lot to him because he was the one who said that I had a lot of potential and that if I wanted to succeed I had to find a proper coach. After a few phone calls I found Glynis Nunn-Cearns, 1984 Olympic Gold Medallist, and have been with her ever since,” Beck said. 

He received his first national medal when he was 16 getting silver in the 400m. He won nationals the following year setting a new Pacific school games record, which was previously held by the late Daniel Batman, a record which still stands today.

In 2009 he made the Australian World Youth team and in 2010 was selected in the World Junior championships, but had to pull out due to injury. 

 In 2012 Alex received the national silver medal where he ran a PB of 46.07 and was selected in the Australian Olympic relay squad for the 4 x 400m.

“I was part of the team which travelled to America and Korea where we recorded the Olympic Qualifier. Unfortunately missing selection for the London Olympics has given me a lot of motivation and drive to succeed and this resulted in winning the 2013 national championships becoming the first Queenslander to win the 400m in 42 years and gaining selection in the 4 x 400m relay for the World Championships held in Moscow,” Beck said.

When he isn’t training he gets into his study at Bond University completing a Doctor of Physiotherapy course, which he finds useful and enjoys.

“The program is fantastic. It’s a very intense course, but it is so rewarding and the staff who manage the course are some of the best. They have been very supportive with all of my athletics which has been very helpful. We have a very small cohort of only 27 and they are 27 of my best mates,” he said.

Beck’s biggest goal is the Rio Olympics and after coming so close to Olympic selection last year, he says he’s very determined to get to Rio.

“It is every athletes dream to be an Olympian and that is what I work towards. I’m very excited for the Commonwealth Games in Glascow next year and on the Gold Coast in 2018. I would love to win gold in front of my home town, friends and family.

Alex is currently in Europe competing before he heads over to Russia for the World Championships which begin 10th August. 

This will be my first open senior team and hoping for more to come,” he said.