Race walker Alex Wright feels he is in the shape of his life ahead of the World Athletics Championships in Moscow this weekend.

The 22-year-old Belgrave Harrier, who lives in Streatham and trains on Tooting Common and Tooting Bec athletics track, will represent Great Britain and Northern Ireland in the men's 20km walk in Moscow this Sunday afternoon.

Having moved back to London from Leeds University this year, Wright joined up with new coach Raphael Rinaldi and has twice lowered his personal best, which now stands at one hour, 23 minutes and five seconds.

It ranks him in the top 100 in the world this year and, after two weeks altitude training in the south of France, he is now ready to make his mark on the world stage thanks to Rinaldi's dedication.

"Raphael is great coach and he helped me set up a performance plan that covered all aspects of my training that would help me to reach world class performances," he said.

"He is very dedicated and has spent the last few weeks travelling back and forward from London to support me in my final preparations and I feel in the best shape of my life.

"I am very excited ahead of the Championships, I have prepared well and I and am looking forward to racing. 

"I am still very young in terms of walking but if I put together the best race I can I will be satisfied and I'm sure a good position will come with that."

Wright's journey to the Championship has been far from straightforward.
Despite meeting the 1.24:00 A standard qualifying time and winning the 5km walk at the British trials, Wright was left out of the British team because there was no trial for the 20km.

But he appealed and won his place.

"I was very disappointed to be left of the team," he said.

"My event did not have an official trial and therefore I was not guaranteed selection according to the policy.

"But I am very grateful for British athletics for reconsidering the decision and naming me in the team a week later.

"It was a tough week to go through but it all seems so long ago now and I am very focused on the job in hand."   

Wright's race begins at 2pm British time on Sunday.

Fellow Belgrave Harriers Dwain Chambers and Will Sharman are also competing at the Championships, with Chambers racing in the 100m on Saturday and Sunday, and Sharman in the 100m hurdles on Sunday and Monday.