Jye Edwards is a fighter.
And he needs to be if the middle distance star is going to secure one of the most hotly contested spots in the Australian track and field for the Paris Olympics.
The incredible depth in the men’s 1500m means that Edwards, who overcame a ruptured Achilles and stress fractures in his right femur to make the Tokyo Olympics, has another battle on his hands if the 26-year-old from NSW wants to go to Paris.
Edwards is up against reigning Commonwealth Games 1500m champion Oli Hoare and Stew McSweyn who both made the final in Tokyo plus Cameron Myers and 22-year-old rising star Adam Spencer.
Spencer upstaged everyone last month winning the 1500m at the Australian Athletics Championships in Adelaide, however, none of our middle distance stars are yet to post an A qualifying time to secure one of the three 1500m spots available for Paris.
If Edwards, who also had surgery on his other Achilles post-Tokyo, can remain injury-free he still believes he has a genuine shot at making the Paris Olympics.
Speaking on the latest episode of the En Route to Paris podcast, Edwards opens up to host and triple Olympian Rowie Webster about overcoming setbacks and self doubts to prove to himself that he belongs on the world stage.
“As most athletes know, it’s incredibly tough to navigate through some really low times, which I definitely have” Edwards said.
“There’s definitely thoughts that creep into your mind at times where you think, jeez, like, my body just can’t handle what this sport demands.
“Is it even worth continuing on? It’s the emotional rollercoaster that you go on. But, I guess for me to do a full 180 and go the other way in 2021 was amazing.
“Just get there (Tokyo) and have the year that I had and just sort of show that I belonged on that world stage was definitely the biggest blessing in the last five years.”
Originally published as En Route to Paris Podcast: Jye Edwards on overcoming injuries, mental battles in Olympic fight