Just 12 months ago, 400-metre runner Charlotte Henrich was celebrating European Under-20 gold in Finland. Fast forward a year and Henrich is no longer a promising young talent knocking on the door of senior athletics, but an athlete making her mark on the biggest tracks.

Ever since winning bronze with Great Britain at the World Athletics Relays in May, the 20-year-old has become a Welsh record holder, a European Championship and Ultimate Championship silver medallist, and a Commonwealth Games finalist. Now, Henrich has her sights firmly set on the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. "I really want to go," Henrich told BBC Sport. "Even at Paris 2024, I never watched that event thinking that I could be there. Now it feels like a real possibility."

Born in France and raised in Kent, Henrich qualifies to represent Wales through her family from Carmarthen. Family support has been central to her success. She has grappled with self-doubt, saying, "In school I was very behind... Every single day I used to come home and say to my dad, 'I am rubbish at everything'. Now it's really nice to tell myself that I'm definitely not rubbish at everything."

At the British Championships in June, Henrich set a Welsh 400m record of 50.58 seconds, beating Michelle Scutt's 44-year record, only to break it again in London with 50.45. Her impressive anchor leg earned Great Britain silver in the mixed 4x400 relay at September's Ultimate Championship. "It's been quite an unexpected year," Henrich admitted.