Four Weetabix, three eggs, four rashers of bacon, a couple of pieces of toast, a cup of tea and an orange.
This would be enough to feed a small family, and yet this what Desiree Henry eats for breakfast before she hits the track for an intense training session.
You’ll find the Islington native every Monday at the Lea Valley Athletics centre in Edmonton, circling the bright orange 400 metre track as her coach puts her through the paces.
With a world youth medal already under her belt and a personal best in the 200m of which any athlete would be proud – 23.25 seconds to be exact – the future’s bright for this City and Islington College student.
Besides her glittering career, she also has to cope with the daily hardship facing every teenager; schoolwork.
“It’s very hard to juggle college and training. One of my sisters is a teacher and she organises me a weekly planner so I know what training and work I have that week,” she says.
When you’re winning gold medals at the age of 17, finding that balance is essential and it comes only with practice.
“It does get hard every now and then but at the moment I think I’m coping pretty well,” she admits.
Growing up in Islington meant that Desiree could pursue her dream of becoming a top athlete.
The famous Lee Valley Athletics Centre, just a 15 minute walk from her house, has now become her second home, after being scouted at an athletics competition.
“It all started when my PE teacher spotted that I was a bit faster than all the other girls. So she took me to an athletics scouting competition and it all just took off from there,” she recalls.
Desiree is tipped for greatness. Her star began to shine when she was chosen, out of all the young athletes in the country, to light the cauldron at the London 2012 opening ceremony.
Being selected was one thing that she had never expected.
Athletic legend Daley Thompson watched her win gold at the World Youth Championships and her performance caught his eye. It was then that he decided to nominate her to light the flame.
“When Daley chose me I was more shocked that he even knew who I was. He is such a legend of the sport and the fact that he picked me I knew it was great achievement in itself,” she says.
She got to know Thompson, the man who had effectively launched her into the spotlight.
“He gave me a little pep talk and said what he has seen so far was amazing and I should maintain what I was doing and I should be destined for greatness.”
Her athletics facility has nurtured sporting heroes before. With athletes such as Christine Ohuruogu and Greg Rutherford among other Lea Valley alumni, the 17-year-old has a lot to live up to if she wants to her carve her own path in the sport.
Christine Ohuruogu has become one of her idols and she explains how the Olympic gold medal winner has been an inspiration for her: “She gives you the real advice. What it’s like to deal with certain situations and pressures which has always been a big help for me going forward.”
With the Rio Olympics just three years away, competing must be on the athlete’s ‘to do’ list.
At the end of this month she is jetting off to Orlando for her first indoor meet of the season.
“Competing in 2016 was a personal aim of mine. But I suppose after London 2012, and lighting the cauldron, it became a public one,” she says.
“In my training sessions, even now, Rio is something I always have on my mind.”
