WATCH: Orkney 2025 - two athletes, two different paths, both relishing the opportunity to compete at the Island Games

Listening to Amelia Hart and Gian-Luca Robilliard speak on the eve of the Orkney Island Games you are quickly reminded that progress is not linear, that resilience is among the most important tools an athlete can have, and that the Island Games plays a huge role in motivating and inspiring local sportspeople.

Our athletes begin the physical trip north for the Games at the end of this week, but for all of them the journey began so much earlier.

Hart, lining up in the 400m and part of the relay teams in Orkney, was an unused member of the relay squad at the Guernsey games two years ago.

That meant getting all the kit, taking part in the opening ceremony, but crucially not getting out on track.

A change of approach has led to the step up in performance that secured her a starting spot in an individual event this time around.

“I really tried to get my times and stuff ready for Guernsey, and it just wasn't going well, and so then I thought, for this one, I'm not going to put the pressure on myself. What will be, will be, and I think that's actually been better for me this year.”

She had not expected this season to go as well as it has.

“To be honest, the past few years haven't been that good and I was getting to the point where I was like, ‘oh, maybe my time's up’. 

“Not that I'm old or anything. But I've gone to uni, and it's not gone so well, so let's just stop. But this year, I took up the 400m which was a new event for me, and so the training has changed quite a lot, and it's actually made my 100m and my 200m better as well. I think it was a bit of a jump for me to take on the 400m, but it's definitely gone well. I'm glad that I've kept going.”

Heading to university brought with it a lot of changes, more responsibility, as well as a need to balance out the social side.

That has taken time to adjust to and settle back into training more constantly, but also led to taking a smarter approach, recognising the importance of recovery.

If she runs to her ability, Hart could contest for a medal next week.

“That would be crazy. But even to make a final would be insane. And I didn't even think I was going to be doing an individual event. And obviously in the relays we've got a really strong team, we've got a really good chance of getting good medals there.”

Hart’s journey is one of progress, plateaus and even backwards steps, before rising again.

As an 11/12 year Hart said she was producing very good times for her age.

But as she got older her times failed to progress as antianticipatedpated.

“I was training and they were going backwards, and I was like, ‘I don't really understand why this happened’. 

“And then I came out of lockdown stronger than before lockdown, we hadn't even been training properly, I did quite a lot of training on the grass, just because it was something to do. I went sub 13s in the 100 for the first time. I was 17, I think, and so I had that plateau, and then had another plateau.

“There's something that happens, especially to girls, because you're changing, and you have to just stick through it.”

Robilliard was blown away by his first experience at an Island Games in Guernsey.

Now two years on he is bringing more experience to the table as he lines up with a shot at medals in both the individual 800m and as part of the 4x400m squad.

Doing so would mean overcoming a disrupted build-up.

He did not race at all last season, initially because of a stress fracture and then, in August, a hamstring tear.

“So that was a complete, complete failure of a season, unfortunately.

“That hamstring injury went on into winter as well. So I had to let that heal and then rehab as well. I missed the first part of winter training, and then obviously my fitness wasn't up to where I wanted it to be coming into the early season, and I had to get a qualifying time by April. 

“I managed to do one indoor race which got me the time. That all factors into not being able to do as many competitions as maybe I would have liked, or especially do competitions that require heats and semis, to prepare for that at the Games. But I've managed to overcome the injuries, touch wood now, I’m feeling in a lot better place than I was last year, for sure.”

Over the years Robilliard has figured out a routine that means he is mentally prepared to race at his highest level.

In the maelstrom of major competitions away he stressed how important it was to be confident and not get distracted by others.

“It can be difficult. Sometimes, if you're going on a group trip and maybe you're rooming with someone that you don't really know, or you're with people and they're doing their thing, and maybe you don't really do that to prepare for a race. 

“It's about just having the courage to just say, ‘actually, no, this is how I prepare. This is how long before a race I warm up. These are the drills that I do. This is what I eat on the day of the race’. Ultimately, on race day, it's about how you run, not about how someone else runs.”

The Island Games provides a reachable platform for many local athletes to aim at, also a high level of competition.

“If you’re in the UK it's much harder to get to compete on an international level like this. I think that's the beauty of it. It was great that it was in Guernsey two years ago, because it gives the younger athletes something, they get to watch it and they get to aspire to it. It's a really great opportunity to compete at an international level. I feel very lucky and privileged that we get that chance.”

The team factor will pay its own part in extracting performance.

“​​In Guernsey, walking out and seeing that crowd, all the Guernsey flags, was amazing. 

“It's not going to be like that in Orkney, but there's going to be your team members there. You're going to see the green kits. That's a big thing that just pushes you on. And you want to make them proud. Everyone supports one another. It goes back to that community feeling within Guernsey Athletics.”