Kent profile
There was one particular occasion when securing the means to pursue his sport had deeply moving connotations for Martin. "My granddad died just before I went to the Commonwealth Games and I got a bit of inheritance, which paid for the trip. He was actually in hospital while I was competing in Manchester. It was my last chance to qualify for Delhi. He died two days later, which was the day before I got the call to say I was in the team." Now, his focus is entirely on the Olympics. "I've got
to get over 8,000 points, that's the B standard. The A standard is 8,200. That guarantees a place in the squad. 7,700 is my PB (personal best)." There are always setbacks to be overcome. During
to get to Delhi last October. "Training started quite late because of India. I got
through most of last winter without problems, except missing training for the snow. That shouldn't happen this winter - I'm going to Australia for three months!" Funding for trips like that is down to Martin. "I
still do the part-time job at Tesco in Tovil I started when I was 16." He also does some coaching for the Gravesham Sports Partnership, which provides pocket money. He is being sponsored by law firm, asb, as a result
of an initiative by the local council a couple of years ago. The idea was to bring businesses and athletes together, for their mutual benefit, and be part of the bid to “bring a medal home to Maidstone”. In fact, Martin was
instrumental in getting Maidstone’s Dream set up. "I spoke to some businesses and got the ball rolling. When we had a sponsors’ meal at Leeds Castle, Charlotte and I sat next to Russell Bell from asb law and had a really good chat with him. Afterwards, he said they would sponsor me. They happened to come in at the right point."
He has also received
vital help from the Jeremy Willson Charitable Trust. Jeremy died of CJD in his late 20s. At the time, he was a middle
distance runner with Maidstone Athletic Club. When he died the family decided to set up a charity to support athletes and people on mountaineering expeditions. They started supporting me in my first year. In those early days they were the only people sponsoring me. Basically they were paying for me to do all my competitions in the summer. This year Martin got funding, with provisos, from
UK Athletics. "It's £3,000 a year as long as I progress; if not, I get chucked off."
his first competition this season, in early May, an injury scare made him pull out after the pole vault. He feared it could be a stress fracture of his left foot - a serious problem for any athlete. Earlier in the event, it had forced him to do the high jump off his 'wrong leg'. Martin explained: "Most people can't do it. I did 1.89m and it was the first time I'd done it in competition." He still came joint 10th and "impressed a few people". Fortunately,
after a worrying wait, an MRI scan revealed the injury was just bruising of the heel. "Since then I decided to miss the national champs while it recovered," said Martin. Just before Mid Kent Living went to press, Martin
was selected for the European cup at the beginning of July, in Bressanone, Italy - but only if he could prove his heel was better within a fortnight by clearing 2m in the high jump. He believed that would not be a problem. For a man who can jump off his 'wrong' leg, I think he might be right.
‘Home’ Games is a real spur MARTIN, a former pupil of Maidstone’s Oakwood
Park Grammar School, reflected on how London securing the Olympic Games has actually raised the bar in his sport - and made the quest for a medal even harder. "Most athletes aim for the Olympics but most people don't get the chance for it in their own country. It has spurred people on to get there and the standard in the decathlon has come on a lot since we knew we were getting it." The 10 field and track events are 100m, long jump, shot put, high jump, 400m, 110m hurdles, discus, pole vault, javelin and 1,500m.
They all want tickets! DON'T ask Martin Brockman for Olympic tickets -
if you don't want to be disappointed. "I get the option to buy two tickets for every morning and afternoon session - not enough to take my fan club," he joked. "Everyone I speak to wants me to get them tickets," added Martin, of Lindisfarne Gardens, Maidstone.
Mid Kent Living 5
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48