Guernsey's Alastair Chalmers achieves Olympic qualifying time after dramatic British Championships

Alastair Chalmers says his dream has "come true" after qualifying for the Olympic Games after a dramatic 400-metre hurdles final at the British Athletics Championships.

Needing to run under 48.7 seconds to qualify for Paris 2024, Chalmers was initially disqualified after a false start.

Despite that, the Guernsey runner still competed 'under protest' and then proceeded to run a new personal best of 48.54 seconds, diving dramatically across the line as he ran under the Olympic qualification time for the first time.

Upon crossing the line Chalmers Olympic future was still in the balance but a couple of hours after the race was completed his time was reinstated.

On waiting for a verdict, Chalmers said: "I was standing with a few of the coaches and others for a good hour and a half to two hours.

"I mean there were tears and everyone felt sick and faint and I was pacing up and down - it was very difficult and awkward waiting and waiting.

"So when I saw the outcome, my coach grabbed me by the hips and we started yelling and shouting and just thrown around."

Chalmers will now compete for Team GB at Paris 2024 which begins on Friday 26 July.

He follows in the footsteps of his brother Cameron who ran the 400m relay for Team GB at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.

He said: "It's a very rare thing to come from Guernsey and to go to the Olympic Games.

"I know I've had it in me for a while and I really left it down to the last race - it was mega stressful but it's a dream come true.

"I've dreamed of this since I was a little boy and Paris is an absolutely iconic place; I'm glad it's there."

Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories? Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To Know...