Athletics: Adam Hoole sets sights on Commonwealth Games

Adam Hoole was crowned the Scottish indoor heptathlon champion earlier this year and is set for a busy summer competing at various events.

However, he already has his eyes on the major international competitions and dreams of representing Great Britain in the decathlon at the Olympic Games and competing at the Commonwealth Games in Australia in 2026.

He said: “The dream is, of course, Olympics and all of the major championships.

“However, for the moment, I have set my goals as the Commonwealth Games 2026, European Under-23 Championships, European Championships (indoor or outdoor) and the Hypo-Meeting in Gotzis.

“These should be realistic if I continue on the progression path I have started and with more time to progress my technique.”

Adam Hoole is targeting the very top of athletics. Image: Bobby Gavin

The former Musselburgh Grammar School pupil took up athletics when he was just five years old.

Originally travelling into classes at Meadowbank in Edinburgh at the weekend, he eventually ended up becoming a key member of Team East Lothian.

Starting out as a youngster meant no focus on a single event, which will serve the 20-year-old well in the multi-discipline sport.

He said: “When I first started athletics as a kid, we would train for all of the events.

“As I got older and started competing, I still couldn’t decide which event I liked the most and I enjoyed the variety of training and competing in everything.

“Once I got to around 13, I found out about multi-events and thought it would be the perfect fit and decided that was the event for me 

“A good multi-eventer combines speed, power and endurance with technique. 

“But, also, it’s about your ability to learn and take on information. 

“Having a strong mindset is essential – not every event will always go perfectly but you need to be able to reset and get straight back into the zone for the next event, otherwise you will spiral and your whole competition could fall apart.”

Adam Hoole, pictured at the Scottish Student Sport Championships, is aiming for the pinnacle of athletics. Picture: Bobby Gavin.

Hoole, who lives in Musselburgh, described the sprint hurdle event as his favourite as it combined “speed and technicality”.

However, the lifeguard and athletics coach acknowledged that there was still room for improvement.

He said: “I need to work on my endurance, my 1,500m has been notoriously weak for my whole career. 

“My javelin is also pretty terrible at the moment but ultimately all of my events need to improve if I want to reach the goals I have set for myself.”

Earlier this year, Hoole, who is going on to study sports science at Heriot-Watt University, was crowned the national indoor champion.

The success, which he described as “incredible and a real validating moment for me as a multi-eventer”, was followed by representing Scotland at a senior level for the first time at the Loughborough International.

He told Courier Sport: “I came to the event later than some of my peers and was often in the shadow of better athletes, so to take the title this year with one of the best scores ever really meant a lot and proved to myself that I am one of the best in the UK.”