Imani-Lara Lansiquot

Imani-Lara Lansiquot (born 17 December 1997) is an English sprinter who competes mainly in the 100 metres. Quotes The girls really pushed me and it bodes so well for our relay team and next year. I came here to try to get my first national title and prepare for the Olympics. I am so grateful to my team for getting me into such good shape. British Championships: Imani-Lara Lansiquot claims first British title, September 4 2020 I really like the theme of 'Reclaiming the Narrative'. It's one thing appreciating a story but having people come and say 'this is who I am' and giving people the confidence to shine exactly as they are is the next step up. I'm a massive advocate for that. I'm very aware of the responsibility that comes with being an athlete but also being a young black person in the UK. I'm passionate about making sure people do not put me in a box or pigeonhole me because of these things that happen to exist. I am very much myself and I want a bit of my narrative to join that puzzle piece of what blackness might mean and what Britishness might mean. I am an athlete and I absolutely love my job, but I'm also a girly-girl and love fashion and beauty. I'm also a history nerd and I love books. I want all of those facets of my personality to come together and exemplify what it means to be black and British in the UK. Social media often wants to dictate what that means but it's our responsibility to reclaim that narrative. Our biggest inspirations often come from those who are closest to us and I really have to shout out my dad. He's one of very few black headteachers in the country and his school is one of the best. He's smashing it. Not just from an academic point of view, either - the culture he's fostering in a majority black school is incredible. They're growing up believing they can achieve anything they set their minds to and that's thanks to my dad. My biggest inspiration growing up was probably Maya Angelou. The second book I read of hers, which made the biggest impact on me, was 'I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings'. For years of my career, I felt like I had such an affinity to her and her writing style. I really looked up to her and I really recommend that people go out and read her work. I actually run a book club now. I love reading and learning about different times in history. It really broadens the mind and makes me very happy. I really like Caleb Azumah Nelson, who is a fantastic black British author. His books are not poetry per se, but they follow quite a poetic rhythm. He is just a beautiful writer and depicts blackness, masculinity, family and Africa really well. He knows how to translate it to a wider audience. I read 'Open Water' and then I read 'Small Worlds' during the Olympics, as well as in my book club, and it's equally as beautiful. But Open Water is my number one. What an amazing book. I remember reading it so quickly and just didn't want it to end. Imani-Lara Lansiquot: Reclaiming the Narrative, October 29 2024 External links Category:Track and field athletes Category:1997 births Category:Women in sports Category:Living people Category:Sportspeople from England Category:Women from England Category:Women born in the 1990s