RPMF and England Athletics have had the pleasure of having a quick get-to-know conversation with up and coming high jumper Gabrielle Garber. Backed by the ‘incredible’ support of these organisations, Garber opens up about her thrilling 2023 season, the journey to securing a coveted spot in the European U20 Championships , and the roots of her strong passion for the sport.
Having started athletics when she was twelve after a successful school sports day, Gabrielle Gerber has never looked back. The Leeds City athlete came from a sporting family with her Dad, an ex-professional boxer, she says it’s her family who inspired her interest and attributes her success to her upbringing.
‘My dad knows and understands the work you have to put into yourself inside and outside of training to get to where you want to be. He has shown me how to be disciplined and supported all I do – his passion for the sporting lifestyle motivates me’
Garber broke onto the international scene this year, earning two GB vests. As outdoors fast approached, she found herself being on the receiving end of an email from British athletics inviting her to compete for the GB U20 team for the Loughborough International after a successful indoor season. As they say, start the season as you mean to go on! She then looked towards the European U20 championships, however, it wasn’t all smooth sailing as she explained:
“The further we got into the season my jumping wasn’t fully going to plan and I started to think maybe Euros was not for me this year. I started to accept the fact that whatever happens is meant to be and is all part of the journey.”
However, by trusting the process, letting herself relax and relinquishing any pressure she thought there was, she sailed over 1.81m at British Championships which not only snagged her her first British Senior medal but also but her first major international qualifying standard – European U20 championships in Jerusalem. The selection for the European U20 Championships was a milestone she manifested from the star of 2023:
‘From the beginning of the year one of my main goals was to qualify for the u20 European Championships, it was always on my mind’.
Garber is supporter by the Ron Pickering Memorial Fund and is also on the England Athletics Junior Talent programme. Garber tell us that the support from RPMF has been a huge help:
‘Not only has to be beneficial to supporting my training and travel fees, it also gives young athletes like myself hope and motivation as it shows us people are out there believing in and willing to and help athletes on their journey’.
Meanwhile, the England Athletics talent programme aims to increase the number of talented athletes who have the skills, competencies, knowledge, and resilience to progress to World Class Programmes, succeed at Senior Championships through workshops and training days with elite coaches and support teams.
‘I have enjoyed the technical sessions of the JTP. The input from different people and coaches is extremely helpful. I also love how all the athletics community comes together, it’s nice to see everyone. JTP has had a positive impact on my performance, they gave me very valuable advice for the mental and technical aspects of my performance.’
Looking forward to 2024, she is looking forward to British Championships but most important wants to ‘keep jumping high, loving all that I am and what I do’.
We are excited to see what this new High Jump prospect can do next season and it is our privilege to be able to support such a talented athlete.
This is also a reminder that there is only 1 day left to apply for the Ron Pickering Memorial Fund 2024 grants. You can apply here:
