An all-rounder who's always in with a sporting chance

Newsreader and fitness freak Jackie Bird talks about her passion for all things athletic.

What are your sports then?

Just about everything. Running, swimming, cycling and water- skiing. I'm a bit of a sad, sporting obsessive.

Not all at once surely?

Just about. I used to compete in triathlons - that's swimming, cycling and running. I did well in the pool but I think I'm the world's worst cyclist.

Swimming is your forte then?

I swam a lot when I was younger, but a promising career was tragically cut short. . . through a lack of ability! I still enjoy it though. I plough a lonely furrow up and down the pool before doing my show on Radio 2.

When's that then?

Hideously early on a Saturday morning. News, views and music, as it says in the Radio Times.

You don't mind the early starts?

Not at all. I'm up at 6.30am most days pounding the streets of Glasgow in the dark. I get a few funny looks, I can tell you. I must look decidedly dodgy at that time of the day. I'm just one sad, pathetic individual really, getting up at the crack of dawn every day.

I've got trouble getting up for work at 9am. Are you in training for a marathon?

No. I've run half-marathons before but never the full thing. It's not just double the distance you have to think about, it is all the extra training. That's my next big ambition; to run a marathon, maybe somewhere glamorous like New York.

All this passion for sport. Would you never have wanted to cover it as a profession?

To be honest, I would be too much in awe of all these famous sports people to be an objective journalist.

You sound very much a participant. Do you spectate as well?

I go along to the Kelvin Hall sometimes for the athletics, and I'm a big rugby fan.

It's a fantastic game - so much power and skill. We all sat down to watch the Scotland v Samoa match at the BBC hoping there would be no big news stories breaking. I must admit I thought about joining a women's rugby team. I went along to sound it out at one point, but I did not think my employers would be too chuffed if I was presenting the news with a bashed face.

Any other sporting hobbies?

I go waterskiing at the Dunfermline waterski centre and I'm experimenting with monoski as well.

I'm a regular at the gym - circuit training that sort of thing. I also work out most days.

Go on then spill the beans. How fit are the guys at BBC sport?

To be honest I'm not sure. I know they play some five a-sides though.

Final thoughts I would love to have been a successful athlete. I've got so much admiration for professional sportsmen andwomen.

DAVID OGILVIE

Copyright 1999
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