He accepted responsibility for the error, saying he needed to learn from the experience and improve.

British 400m hurdles champion Alastair Chalmers has set his sights on qualifying for the 2028 Olympic Games, aiming to secure the required standard by August next year.

The 26-year-old Guernsey athlete reached the semi-finals at the Paris Olympics in 2024 but fell after hitting a hurdle with around 150 metres remaining.

Chalmers, who won Commonwealth Games bronze for Guernsey in 2022, also reached the semi-finals of this year’s European Championships before finishing sixth in the Commonwealth Games final after hitting a hurdle.

“My main goal is the Olympic Games in 2028, we can actually qualify for the Olympics next year come August, so that’s the goal to be in that shape and run the standard by then,” Chalmers told BBC Radio Guernsey.

He said his immediate focus was on maintaining fitness and preparing for another demanding season, which includes the European Team Championships and the World Championships in Beijing in September.

“It’s just about staying healthy, doing the right things and enjoying the process,” he said.

Chalmers Targets Olympic Final

Chalmers hopes to reach the final at the 2028 Olympics and believes improving his personal best will be crucial to achieving that ambition.

His current best stands at 48.30 seconds, recorded in the summer of 2025. He said a faster time in the 47-second range could improve his chances of competing at the highest level.

“Being in an Olympic final, I think that’s definitely doable if I keep pushing on and can just tweak a few little things to come down to the 47’s,” he said.

Chalmers added that reaching a major championship final could open up opportunities for a medal, recalling his bronze-medal success at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

British Title Reclaimed After Birth of First Child

Chalmers reclaimed the British 400m hurdles title this summer, securing his sixth national crown in seven years just days after his wife gave birth to their first child.

The achievement followed a challenging season in which he had hoped to win gold for Guernsey at the Commonwealth Games.

He entered the competition aiming to add another medal to the island’s athletics history after winning Guernsey’s first-ever track and field medal at the 2022 Games.

However, a mistake during the final cost him a chance to finish among the medal winners, despite a strong performance in the semi-finals.

“That was going to be the highlight for me this year, getting a medal at the Commonwealth Games, and I was on track for that,” Chalmers said.

He accepted responsibility for the error, saying he needed to learn from the experience and improve.

“I ran really well in the semi-final, but it was my fault I hit the hurdle and I take full blame and I need to be accountable for these things,” he said.

Guernsey Athlete Focuses on Comeback

Chalmers said the disappointment was particularly difficult because members of the Guernsey team travelled to watch him compete and gave him strong support.

He said he had wanted to bring home another medal for the island but was determined to move forward rather than dwell on the result.

“You’ve got a bounce back and move on. I’m not going to sit down and waste my life worrying about it, but it’s definitely something for the future for me to work on,” he said.

With Olympic qualification approaching next year, Chalmers is now focused on staying healthy, refining his technique and improving his times as he works towards his goal of reaching the 2028 Olympic final.