Page 6 - BBHAC Winter 2014-15 Gazette web
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4 Interview
Continued
just did so on such an extremely says it’s your ambition and you rivals even in opposition as
vague scale and that made it more can do really well, but everyone already mentioned in praising
fictional, like literature rather forgets that being there and getting Daphne Shippers whom she
than history…” there is actually a struggle in faced that record breaking
In considering this she is itself… it’s just satisfying to be evening recently at Hengelo.
comfortable with the idea able to qualify for it...” But at least she does not lack
that you can switch to other If there is an ultimate goal ambition and there is a steely
disciplines and fields and she is more comfortable determination as well as the
not be trapped in a narrow with the experience of simple satisfaction of just
mindset. By examining texts building towards it over a qualifying if she is “fit healthy
by Professor Natalie Zemon long timescale, starting with and running fast” and given the
Davis of the University of the World Championships at competition it would, for her,
Toronto, she enters into a Beijing, and maybe attaining be a great achievement just
world where history combines that goal much as Dame Kelly to make the GB team for her
with other disciplines such as Holmes did in that brilliant sprinting at the Olympics.
anthropology, ethnography climax to her long athletic So everything in its right
and literary theory, one where career in Athens in 2004. In time, and if this time is more
the gulf between science order to avoid the dangers of of a learning curve hopefully
and the humanities can be coming through too soon, it will be fun and a positive
bridged. “Yes I think history and creating impossible experience for her, not one
can be regarded as a science” she standards by which she will fraught with the pressures of
adds “because of the scientific always be judged for the rest having to deliver too soon.
methodolog y behind it but at the of her career she has sensibly What all this suggests is that
same time it has to be a humanity settled for long term goals, she has already at 19 gained a
because it has so many biases and “I’d rather have a long career and maturity and confidence which
sides of the argument to explore.” being with John helps since we’re makes her unique amongst
It’s something she will working on long term goals rather those of her age, even those
probably be absorbed by for than short term ones. Short term equipped with the same talent
some time to come. success is great but not if you’re and ability as she has, and is
Perhaps her interest in going to disappear off the face of aware of how far she needs to
causation and historical the earth in a few months.” go in terms of developing her
theory gives her a real sense So she is prepared to accept potential. Competing at the
of things happening for a that it will come when it World Championships should
purpose and in their own comes and not prematurely, be an opportunity for her to
right time. Her ambitions and this will not come find that there is everything
on the track could be said to cheaply? Also that the to gain by the experience,
fit this. Whilst she has been competition for this particular that this may be a foretaste of
tipped for success in major event in track athletics will things to come, and if there
competitions she is modest be stiff. However she is may be greater challenges
about what could possibly magnanimous in her rating to overcome, then there will
happen particularly when of her rivals for potential also be, for her limitless
it comes to considering the selection in team GB in possibilities.
Olympics. “Well I’d just like to the near future, and has
be there..” she smiles “everyone expressed admiration for such Wilf Orton
