by Ben Baker in Moscow

It might have been a rocky road just to get to the World Athletics Championships, but Alex Wright insisted the trials and tribulations were worth it for his Russian adventure.

The 22-year-old from Streatham was initially left out of the British squad for the worlds in Moscow despite ducking under the A qualifying standard of one hour and 24 minutes for the 20km race walk.

But, after winning an appeal against his failure to be selected, Wright was on the plane to Moscow full of confidence having lowered his 20km personal best on the continent in March.

Wright couldn’t better it again in Moscow but he gave a solid account of himself, coming home 31st in 1:26:40, which was three minutes slower than his personal best.

He was sitting 48th at the halfway stage but refused to give up and was happy to prove that fighting for his place on the plane to Russia was more than beneficial.

“I’m really happy with that,” he said. “I was overtaking people all the way through to the end so I can’t complain.

“Even though it was really hot out there I felt really strong towards the end and that gives me a lot of confidence for the future.

“The plan was to pick people off and I had two Indians and two Mexicans just in front of me and I managed to get both of them.

“There was fantastic support out there. People like my old Somerset school teacher was even out there supporting me, so it was really good.”

Wright’s outing in Moscow was his first experience of a World Athletics Championships, having finished 54th at the World Race Walking Cup last year.

And Wright was delighted to have turned out on the major senior international stage, the experience already whetting his appetite for future involvements.

“It was a fantastic experience to be involved in a competition of this magnitude and I can’t wait to do it again hopefully” he added.

“I’m really happy to be here and to have had the opportunity to race. It has been a fantastic experience.”

The National Lottery is backing over 1300 elite athletes across 44 sports on the road to Rio. To find out how playing The National Lottery supports sport and many other life-changing projects in your community visit lotterygoodcauses.org.uk.