Ben Pattison’s season has started in the same way his 2023 ended – a whirlwind. The World Championship bronze medallist heads to his debut Olympics full of confidence Ben spoke to James Rhodes for the latest in the Road to Paris series about his goals for Paris, *that* race in Monaco and what lies ahead after the big dance.

The past twelve months have been quite something for Ben Pattison. At the start of last season, he had a PB of 1:44.60. Without doubt, that is a brilliant time for two laps of the track; it was the fourth fastest in Britain in 2022. However, there may not have been many who expected what was to follow.

The Big One

Fast forward to the present day, and Ben goes into his debut Olympics full of confidence. A World Championship bronze medal to his name, and a PB that no British athlete has bettered in his lifetime. It is an opportunity he is relishing:

“I’m looking forward to it. It’s what I’ve been preparing for all season. I didn’t race indoors, I didn’t do cross country, I didn’t do the Europeans. I have given up quite a lot to prepare myself for the Olympics. It’s the big one, it’s the one everyone really cares about.

I’m happy I’ve managed to make it to this point healthy. I’m really excited now, I know I’m in good shape – I’m just looking forward to it”.

Photo: James Rhodes

Embracing the Pressure

By virtue of his World Championships medal and the wording of UK Athletics’ selection policy, Ben was guaranteed a place in Paris as long as he competed in an event at the British Championships. That helped shape his season, but as someone who loves competing under pressure it had its pitfalls too.

“It was nice, and no so nice as well. I’m someone who performs under pressure, so I didn’t want to go into the trials with my name already on that team sheet. Quite a few people were already saying it, which is why I chose to do the 800m. I wanted that pressure, I wanted race in my event, to have that pressure on me and to perform. Luckily I did!”.

Ben won his first senior British title, clocking 1:45.49. It was one of the most eventful races of the weekend, with Elliot Giles and Josh Kerr both falling. Ben knew something had happened, just didn’t know what.

“I made a bit of a gap and started to ease down, I didn’t want to go deeper that I needed to. But I heard a bit of a thud and thought maybe something was happening’, so I had to try and pick it up again.

I didn’t know what was going on, even after the race I didn’t know Josh went down. By the time I had slowed and turned around, he had already finished. It was just Elliot on the floor.

That’s 800m running, unfortunately for Elliot and Josh. It’s tough. I was a bit worried it was going to happen to me during the race because I was getting bounced around all over the place. I managed to stay on my feet!”

Photo: James Rhodes

Magical Monaco

Ben’s next race was at a bucket list venue. The Stade Louis II in Monaco. Five days earlier, the Paris Diamond League hosted to one of the greatest 800m races in history, with Djamel Sedjati (1:41.56) one of three men inside 1:42.

Ben turned down the opportunity to compete. Was it a decision to be regretted? Certainly not. 1:42.27, the second fastest Brit in history. Only Sebastian Coe has run faster.

“I was pretty upset after Paris, because I chose not to do it! I wondered if I’d made a big mistake, but thought ‘trust the process, Monaco is going to be just as quick’.

I saw people like [Gabriel] Tual and [Elliot] Crestan run 1:41, 1:42, I thought I am just as good as them, I’ve beaten them before, I am capable of that too. If they can do it, why can’t I?

In my head all week leading into Monaco, I thought I could run 1:42. But I said to myself, ‘just take one step at a time; you’ve not even gone sub-1:44 yet, so let’s focus on 1:43 first. Don’t get too ahead of yourself’”.

Photo: James Rhodes

Exceeding Expectations

The enormity of the performance cannot be understated. No British athlete has run faster in Ben’s lifetime, and it puts him fourteenth on the global all-time list. Excitingly, Ben feels there is more to come.

“I was hoping for a 1:42-high, so to go 1:42.2 was pretty mind blowing. I made some mistakes during the race, I definitely know there’s more in the tank. It’s very good to go into the Olympics having run my quickest ever race, knowing I can do better.

I’ve tried to soak it in a bit, but it’s not really worked as it is all eyes on Paris. I’m training hard, I had one of my worst ever sessions on the back of it, that humbled me straight away. At the end of the season, I’ll look back and think, ‘wow, I’ve made a massive step forward this year’. I’m still pretty young, I know I can hopefully beat Seb’s record in the next couple of years.

I think there’s more to give this year, so hopefully I’ll be ending the season as a 1:41 runner. It’s just about getting in the right race, we’ll see”.

Photo: James Rhodes

Ben will continue racing after Paris, one goal being making his first Diamond League final. Also on the agenda are some races over 1500m and ticking a sub-four minute mile off the bucket list. The likely first race post-Olympics will be the Silesia Diamond League.

Whatever happens, an exciting race over two laps is near-guaranteed in Paris. The heats of the men’s 800m take place on Wednesday 7 August. Ben will be joined by Max Burgin and Elliot Giles, a late replacement for Jake Wightman, in representing Great Britain.