In 2025, she made history as the first British woman to clear two meters in high jump. Now, she’s paving the way for a new version of athletes.
When Morgan Lake cleared two meters in Zurich at the Diamond League Final last year, it felt monumental. Not just for Morgan — who’d been working towards this goal since she began her career — but for the whole of British athletics.
Having previously held a 1.99m record, she dangled on the cusp of greatness for two years, finally surpassing that number on her first attempt in Switzerland and cementing her place in British history. Ironically, this was also the very moment that Morgan decided to let the goal go.
“Before, I’ve been so hyper-focused on doing the best I can that I haven’t enjoyed the sport, or the stadiums or travelling the world,” Morgan tells me.
“But last year, I realised that the joy and appreciation helped improve my results. I decided to take more of a relaxed approach to competitions, and it ended up being the most successful year of my career.”
Letting go is easier in theory than it is in practice — especially when you’ve spent your life chasing a specific dream — but Morgan points out that it’s about removing the fear, not the ambition.
“I’ve had times where I’ve been so nervous that I’ve forgotten my run up or other little things that are usually second nature to me — purely because of that fear of failure. Once you eliminate that, the performance you’re chasing is unlocked.”
It’s a notion that extends far beyond the track. As Morgan delves into her mindset, it dawns on me that the way she approaches her sport is an outlook that we all should adopt, in fitness or other areas of our lives. After all, who can say that they’ve never let fear hold them back in some shape or form?
“In athletics, you’re going to fail,” says Morgan. “You’re probably going to fail hundreds of times before you hit the speed or height or length or whatever the goal is that you’re chasing. Once you get there, you won’t be able to remember how many times it took you to do it.”
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Are athletes discouraged from letting their personalities shine?
Morgan remembers a time when she held back all aspects of her individuality in order to ‘fit into’ the athlete persona — but that’s a habit she’s ready to shed. As 2026 rolls out, she’s noticed a shift, and she wants to be at the forefront of that change.
“Careers are going on for longer, athletes are starting to feature on the front cover of magazines and get involved in different spaces other than sports,” she explains. “I always thought that I needed to remain hyper-focused on high jump in order to be taken seriously, but I think we’re entering a different era of sport.”
Recently, Morgan walked the stage at London Fashion Week for Selasi’s AW26 collection, a moment she says was just as nerve-wracking as running up for a jump at the Olympics. “It wasn’t too dissimilar,” she laughs. “Models don’t get enough credit.”
The opportunity felt like a shift for Morgan, who’s eager to do more in the fashion and beauty space, all while continuing to pursue her Olympic dreams.
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The future for women in sport
Women’s sport feels like it’s on an upwards trajectory, and our Made to Move campaign has gone a long way to prove that. But it’s also demonstrated that there’s a long way to go.
“One of the biggest things I’ve struggled with, since early on in my career, is people who can’t comprehend that being an athlete is my full-time job,” Morgan explains.
“People always ask me about my back-up plan, but if I were a male footballer, I don’t think anyone would ask me that question.”
Morgan sees this as a systemic issue for female athletes; historically, they haven’t been taken as seriously in their fields as their male counterparts. She acknowledges that women are coming into their own in sports but would love to see a day when her athletic career isn’t questioned in the way it still is. “I think people still see athletics as a bit of a hobby for women rather than a job, which is a shame.”
Morgan’s advice for going after your dreams
“The biggest piece of advice I’d give, which has helped me as well, is to seek out other people who’ve achieved what you’re trying to achieve. That doesn’t mean you actually need to reach out to them, but perhaps read a book about their story, or follow them on social media,” she explains.
“Once you can see and visualise a clear path to success, it makes it a lot easier to follow those dreams.”
Feature image: Alamy