Long-distance runner, Collis Birmingham.
COLLIS BIRMINGHAM is these days truly a globetrotter.
Birmingham, 27, splits the bulk of his time between training bases at Falls Creek in Victoria, the United States and England.
In between he finds time to spend in Ballarat and Melbourne.
It is a formula which works, with Birmingham having spent almost 10 years representing Australia in cross country and on the track.
The two-time Australian 10,000m champion and once 10,000m track record holder has had close to the perfect preparation for London.
Having finished second to Craig Mottram in the Olympic selection trials in Melbourne, Birmingham has gone on to set 5000m personal bests in Diamond League meets in the US and England.
He achieved the first in Eugene and then cut his time further at Crystal Palace.
The latest of these has given Birmingham the confidence to believe he can run his way into the Olympic final.
OLYMPIC SCHEDULE
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 8 – heat
SUNDAY, AUGUST 12 – final
BALLARAT CONNECTION
Grew up in Ballarat
• Black Hill Primary School
• Ballarat High School
• University of Ballarat
• Eureka Athletic Club
OLYMPIC RECORD
London is Birmingham’s second Olympic Games.
He made his Olympic debut in Beijing in 2008 when he also contested the 5000 metres.
Birmingham finished 10th in his heat and was classified as 19th overall.
