Surrey’s Pippa Earley is setting her sights on the next Olympics, following successes at National and International athletics competitions.


As a child, Pippa had a passion for gymnastics, but at 12 years old, she suffered a fractured finger which meant she could not compete for a few weeks. By chance, she tried athletics and never looked back, giving up the world of gymnastics for athletics.

Through hard work and dedication, she now regularly competes in the heptathlon, which consists of 7 events – long jump, hurdles, high jump, shot putt, javelin, 800m and 200m. After speaking to Pippa, she revealed she, “trains 3 hours every day, 6 days a week. Some sessions may even be 4 hours!” Her passion for athletics is evident in her dedication and she recommended that for anyone who wants to start out in athletics, to just start to train at a local club – that’s what she did and look how far she’s come!

‘Young people who want to get involved in athletics should just start at a local club. Hard work and determination will make them succeed.’ - Pippa Earley 2017

Like many other successful athletes, Pippa has set routines that she carries out before racing. She said, “I tend to drink a smoothie and have an inspirational chat with my dad before racing.”


Her most memorable moment in athletics so far is, “breaking the British record for 60 and 80m hurdles”.

Pippa’s lifelong ambition in athletics is to win an Olympic gold medal – she’s definitely on the right track considering her incredible success as a junior athlete. She hopes to be selected for the World Juniors Athletics Championships next year in Finland which will be a huge test for her against tough International Competition.

Alongside her athletics, Pippa is currently in Lower Sixth at Notre Dame School where she is studying PE, English, and Philosophy and Ethics for her A-Levels. Inspiration for her athletics drives from her idol, American athlete, Alyson Felix, who Pippa describes as, “using her God given talent to succeed in athletics”.


Pippa was selected to go to the 2017 Commonwealth Youth Games this July in the Bahamas. She was chosen for her consistent performance at National competitions and achieving the entry standards needed to compete.

Competing in the Bahamas was an incredible opportunity for her. Pippa says, “despite coming 4th, I feel as though I have learnt a lot of valuable lessons”.

Not only that, but over the last athletics season, Pippa was delighted to become the first U17 woman to ever have an 80m hurdles time below 11 seconds. Pippa has become a role model at Notre Dame School, where she can be seen regularly doing extra training on the track and in the fitness suite at lunchtimes. We will watch with anticipation Pippa’s continuing success and her bright future as an athlete.

By Emanuela Nigrelli