Team GB prepare to dazzle at World Athletics Championships

In Ulsan’s central Buddhist temple, psychedelic murals chart epic battles between the forces of heaven and hell. Add the biblical thunderstorms that are being unleashed on this unremarkable industrial city, and it’s provided a uniquely South Korean welcome for the British athletics team’s World Championship training camp.

The 67 Home Nations athletes (although there are none from Northern Ireland) might take solace in recalling that when Brazil team was based here for the 2002 world cup, it won.

A constellation of GB talent, blessed with both youth and experience, has amassed here with a mission to bring back a clutch of gleaming medals. The objective: to announce to the world that come the Olympics next summer, home athletes will dazzle.

None more so than the starlet of British track and field Jessica Ennis (pictured receiving the Gold medal in the Women’s Heptathlon at the European Athletics Championships in 2010, below).

She competes here in the gruelling heptathlon as reigning world champion; back in Blighty, she smiles down on mere mortals from ubiquitous advertising hoardings as the face of London 2012. In the confines of the team hotel, she’s a 5ft 5 woman from Sheffield who’s been blessed to find a job she really, really loves – and still can’t quite believe she’s one of the biggest names in British sport.

“It’s weird,” she says with a disarmingly innocent smile.

“I still feel like a young one amongst the team, although I’ve become one of the senior ones.”

She’s clearly an inspiration but insists on sharing her perch.

“We’ve got some amazing athletes on the team, so I dont see it as me that’s inspiring. It’s all of us, and I hope we’ll inspire each other.”

The British coach is hoping Ennis will be one of several Brits to win their event.

Somali-born middle-distance runner Mo Farah (pictured below) is another. For decades, his events have been owned by the East Africans. The British record holder at 5k, British and European at 10k, and dual champion at both, has had a blistering couple of years, but next week he has to prove himself against the very best in the world.

“Five to six years ago we used to think the African guys were unbeatable. But now we’re proving the European and American guys can mix it up too.”

Welshman Dai Greene is also tipped for success in the 400m hurdles. Another owner of Commonwealth and European titles, who says he’s trained so hard for this competition and next year’s Olympics that raised expectations are an easy burden to bear.

“I’m not going to shy away from the limelight. I did a lot of losing before I started winning. So it’s no biggie to be looked at as one of the favourites.”

Olympic silver medallist in the triple jump and reigning world champion Phillips Idowu (pictured, top) competes on the very last day of the games. It may come down to him to hit the GB target of four golds.

“It’s the first time I’m gonna get an opportunity to defend a major title, and I feel in great shape. I’ve worked hard this year, and it’s a massive stepping stone to the Olympics next year,” he said.

For Ennis, the pressure to succeed is Ying and Yang – much like the Confucian spirit that helped transform their host South Korea into an economic powerhouse.

“I’m always nervous,” she admits, smiling. “But nerves are good – and the adrenaline is pumping!”

The World Athletics Championships are broadcast live on Channel 4 starting next Saturday. Channel 4 News will be trackside with the best of the action featuring both British and international athletes, including interviews with the biggest stars expected to feature in the London Olympics.