Athlete Analysis: Olly Coulibaly

Neuff x Athletics Weekly

After a whirlwind year full of medals and the odd mishaps from time to time, it's been nothing but a gripping year for our phenomenally talented throws ambassador, Olly Coulibaly!

Not afraid of pushing his limits, Olly is an U17 thrower from Southampton who thrives off the thrill of building up strength and proving what he's capable of... all through the wonderful world of athletics!

One particular highlight from Olly's 2025 season is securing a silver medal at this year's English Schools, a feat which he'd been looking to achieve for quite some time. This then led to competing at SIAB, where he again secured another podium placement, all while proudly repping the England vest!

What's particularly astonishing in Olly's case, however, is his undeniable resilience. After suffering a lower back injury in 2024, which could have derailed a significant portion of his junior career, he remained focused and still managed to deliver some sensational throws throughout 2025.

In the first blog of this year's Ambassador series with Athletics Weekly, we had the pleasure of speaking to Olly earlier this summer to find out how he stays on top form, even throughout the toughest of tribulations!

You're only 16, yet you're already showing so much promise as a throws athlete. How did you discover your natural talents for throwing, and why do you think you've received so much support from your friends and peers in the athletics community so far?

I got introduced to athletics in junior school, which was very sport-driven.

I quickly joined Quadkids at Southampton AC, and realised I was throwing the vortex further than everyone else. Later on, my current throws coaches approached my mum, and that's when my journey really began.

I think I've received so much support because of how dedicated I am and the effort I put into everything I do. People see that I'm always pushing myself to improve, and that's helped me build great relationships within the athletics community.

You've told us before that your favourite throws event is the discus, although you had to take a step back from competing in this sport last year due to an injury. Now that you've recovered and have started competing again, did you learn anything from your recovery period which has benefitted your throwing in the long run?

I had a fracture in my lower spine (still no idea how it happened), which meant I had to take a long break from discus.

The rehab took over a year, and I had to completely change the way I trained. Luckily, my physio and coaches worked closely together to get me back on track. During that time, I learned that the journey to success isn't always straightforward. Setbacks, whether major or minor, are part of the process. What matters is how you respond. That injury taught me resilience, patience, and to appreciate every moment I get to train and compete. The comeback is always stronger.

What excites you the most about taking part in throws events? And what ultimately ignites the fire within you to succeed as an athlete?

What excites me the most about taking part in throws events is the constant challenge to better myself.

The feeling of getting a huge PB is one I've not yet experienced, but hitting small PBs and staying consistent shows that something big is on the way.

That progress keeps me motivated. I also want to always be amongst the best, so knowing there's someone out there better than me pushes me to want it more and work even harder.

That hunger to improve and compete at the highest level is what truly ignites the fire within me as an athlete.

You decided to take up hammer throwing this year, which is a sport you rarely took part in beforehand. What made you want to commit to this event on a more regular basis, and how do you see yourself progressing with this sport in the future?

To be honest, hammer isn't something I've trained regularly with yet. I've probably had just over 10 proper sessions!

That's why throwing as far as I have with so little work is really exciting. It made me want to commit more seriously, because there's clearly potential there. With focused training over the winter, I think we could see something special next season.

I'm excited to see how much I can progress with proper work behind it, and I'm looking forward to exploring what I can truly achieve in the event.

You've been taking your final GCSE exams alongside your competitions this year. How have you managed to balance your love for athletics with your schoolwork in what has likely been a testing time over these past few months?

There was plenty of juggling between training and revision, but I knew it was only for a short time.

I stayed organised, stuck to a routine, and kept reminding myself that the short period of suffering would hopefully pay off in the long run.

Balancing both was tough, but my love for athletics kept me motivated throughout.

As you train and compete for Southampton AC, could you tell us a little bit more about how they support you with your overall development, both as an athlete and as a person? Especially in a significant year such as this?

I must say, it's entirely my amazing coaches at Southampton AC who have supported my development both as an athlete and as a person.

They're always flexible with training and do their best to accommodate me, especially during a demanding year like this one. Their support, understanding and encouragement have made it possible for me to keep progressing, achieving the things I've wanted to so far.

Finally... what do you hope to gain from athletics over the next ten years? Is your current main goal to eventually compete full-time, or do you think athletics will play a slightly different role in your future?

Personally, I'd say anyone would want to become a pro and compete full-time, and I do too.

That's definitely the goal. I'm also hoping to study in the USA, which could open up new opportunities both academically and athletically.

Over the next ten years, I want to keep improving, compete at a high level, and see just how far I can go in the sport with the right support and environment.