For Josh Zeller, the road through athletics has been anything but straightforward. Born in Johannesburg in 2000, he moved to Britain as a baby and grew up in Berkshire, where sport quickly became part of his life.
Football, rugby, swimming, cross-country – Zeller had a go at everything. But it was a spur-of-the-moment decision to follow a friend into a hurdles session at Bracknell AC that set him on course for an international career.
“I actually started with cross-country,” he told Fen Regis Trophies. “A mate of mine at the club was doing hurdles, so I thought I’d give it a go. At first, I was terrified of competing, but eventually, they convinced me. I won my first race – just a small under-13 open meet – but that gave me the buzz to stick with it.”
That buzz turned into belief a few years later. In Year 11, Zeller won the prestigious English Schools’ Championships, a landmark that transformed him from a promising youngster into a serious prospect. “That was the turning point,” he says. “It was like: right, I’m actually doing well in this. Let’s see how far I can take it.”
From Rugby to the Runway
For a while, Zeller tried to balance athletics with rugby. He even had spells with the London Irish and Wasps academies, showing genuine potential in the sport.
“Rugby was a serious option,” he admits. “I loved it and I still miss it. But athletics gave me opportunities rugby never could. What I enjoy most is that it’s all on me. You run fast or you don’t – there’s no blaming anyone else.”
That individual responsibility pushed him to international success. As a teenager, he clocked a world junior qualifying time of 13.60 seconds for the 110m hurdles, won European junior gold, and became England under-20 champion both indoors and outdoors. “That was huge,” he smiles. “I remember my phone blowing up with messages after winning Europeans. It was surreal – the first time I felt like, ‘Wow, I belong on this stage.’”
Heading Stateside
Those performances caught the attention of American universities. In 2019, Zeller moved to the University of Michigan on a sports scholarship.
“The US system is unbelievable,” he says. “You travel all over the country, you’re given a kit, living expenses, the lot. But you still have to do the work in the classroom. If you don’t, you’re not eligible to compete.”
Zeller embraced both sides of the deal, graduating with a degree in economics and a minor in business studies. “It made me grow up quickly,” he reflects. “You’re suddenly on the other side of the world, cooking for yourself, sorting your own life out. But I also got to compete in places like California, Florida and Texas – experiences I’d never have had otherwise.”
Highs and Home Games
By 2022, Zeller was breaking through at senior level. He reached the final of the World Championships in Eugene, finishing fifth – his proudest achievement to date – before heading straight into a home Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
“That was amazing,” he said. “When they announced my name before the final, the roar from the crowd was incredible.
“I feed off that atmosphere. I finished fourth, just behind my teammate Andy Pozzi. At the time I was gutted, but looking back it was special – two English hurdlers battling it out in front of a home crowd.”
Injuries and Setbacks
The joy of Birmingham was followed by frustration. A nagging knee problem hampered his 2023 season, and in 2024, while training in Florida, he tore his hamstring badly enough to rule him out of the Paris Olympics. More recently, surgery on his Achilles has forced another lengthy lay-off.
“Missing the Olympics was devastating,” Zeller admits. “It was my first major injury where I couldn’t do anything. That was really tough mentally.
“Having been through it, I know how to handle setbacks better now. You need balance. Last year, all I did was rehab and it drove me mad. This time, I’ve got a job in a pizza restaurant as well as my rehab. It gives me something else to focus on, which keeps me sane.”
Eyes on the Future
Despite the setbacks, Zeller remains optimistic. He has no plans to contest the indoor season, but is targeting a full outdoor return in 2025. “My goal is to be back racing next summer. I want to show I can get back to where I was – and go further.”
Beyond the track, he is already thinking about life after athletics. Coaching, mentoring and roles in the corporate world are all possibilities, supported by his Michigan degree.
“Athletics won’t last forever,” he says matter-of-factly. “But right now I still love it, and I know I haven’t reached my peak yet.”
Clearing the Next Hurdle
At 24, Josh Zeller has already experienced what many athletes can only dream of: European titles, a World Championship final, a home Commonwealth Games, and the harsh reality of serious injury. His story is one of resilience – of learning to reset, to balance ambition with perspective, and to keep faith that the next hurdle can be cleared.
“Every setback makes you stronger,” he says simply. “I’ve had some tough times, but I know there are still great moments ahead. I just want to get back out there, competing, proving to myself what I can do.”
And when he does, you can be sure Zeller will attack the barriers in front of him with the same determination that has carried him this far.
By Aaron Gratton
