Qualifiers: Three Down. Three To Go.

Summer Down Under Shout-Out!

So, the Summer Down Under series had come to an end, and before I address anything else, I’d just like to give a shout-out to WSNSW, Invacare and GIO for continuing to invest in Australian wheelchair racing. The Summer Down Under series is extremely close to my heart. SDU gave me my first opportunity to witness elite athletes from around the world do their thing when I was first starting out in para athletics.  I got the privilege of sharing the track with them that same day. I even got to race against a future world record holder in my classification in my first year! Shout out to Beat Bosch from Switzerland...it only took me 8 years to beat Beat…

SDU is an event that breeds the future of the sport. It not only gives new athletes the chance to test the waters and get on the track with world-class athletes, like young me got to, but they also get the chance to see that we are all one big family. Every athlete competing knows the benefit of sport and the opportunities it has given them to improve fitness, meet new friends and gain confidence in all aspects of life.  The veteran athletes love to share support and guidance with newcomers. We wouldn’t be able to continue to do this without the amazing support of organizations like WSNSW, Invacare and GIO whole-heartedly believing in and providing these opportunities for wheelchair racing.

Moving on!

ACT State Championships

 As I mentioned in the last blog, I decided to stay in Canberra to take advantage of another track meet at the AIS. Having raced a new PB earlier in the week at SDU, I was over the moon but had a nagging feeling that it might have been a fluke.  When you spend so long working toward something, when it actually happens you can’t help but linger in disbelief and self-doubt. I kept focusing on the fact that that particular race had a perfect tailwind and was worrying that maybe for this next race Evee would be running low on go fast power. It was a scorcher of a day to the point where I was overheating by the time I checked in for the race, before I even got into my race chair.  Since my coach Freddy wasn’t there to consult with, I made the judgement call to get in the chair as close to the call as possible. I performed a few practice starts on my way to the start line instead of having a full warm-up like I normally would. I was concerned that I’d end up overheating before the race even started and, as a quadriplegic with no temperature regulation, that could result in me not being conscious, which makes it hard to race well.  Rolling up to the start line I was feeling sluggish having not warmed up, but I didn't want to waste the opportunity and psyched myself up to get in the right mindset and ready to race. The gun went off and I sprung forward, feeling the first few meters grind away slower than I hoped for, I knew I had to work my butt off in the last half of the race and crossed the line at 28 kph. Not too shabby. To my surprise I managed to scrape by with a time of 17.18! What’s the A qualifying time I hear you ask? 17.19! *dramatic pause while you put two and two together*  THAT’S ANOTHER A TIME! I mean... by the smallest margin sure... but I’ll take it! 

So, Tokyo… as mentioned in previous blogs the team won't be announced until July 13.  My birthday. As if I wasn’t feeling old already… no pressure. And that's a long time away!  On the bright side though… *mentally starts humming Mr. Brightside by The Killers*...I've never had two A qualifying times going in to a Paralympic Games before.  And i'm just generally stoked. 

Canberra Classic

Next up, is the Canberra Classic on the 13th of February...Me and Evee will be celebrating Valentine’s Day together a day early (don’t tell Q)...Early Valentine’s Day present to myself? Hopefully.  This is the last of the qualifier events here in Australia on a fast track so I’ll be heading up the highway again (I wonder if the lady at the Macca’s halfway there knows my order by heart now) and aiming for another quick time...Cause you know, that's the whole point...in case you missed that somehow.

Swiss Series

So with this being the last planned qualifying event here in Australia, what other qualifying opportunities do I have left before Tokyo? I’m glad you asked!  You guys are asking the best questions today! I’ll be heading over to Switzerland at the end of May for the final two chances at times before the qualifying period ends.  I’m looking forward to getting back over there again, it’s always like a mini-Paralympics in the wheelchair world with all the best athletes coming over to race on some of the quickest tracks in the world. I am slightly nervous about traveling with Evee for the first time overseas.  Having had my last chair beaten up during flights, it's always in the back of my mind to do everything I can to keep her in the best shape possible and prevent damage! Time to bust out the cardboard and tape and build her a coffer fit for a queen. 

New Goal!

With a few months to go leading into the Swiss series I’m setting myself a new goal and telling you all to keep myself motivated:  to break the 17 second mark. As far as I know, only four T52 athletes have ever done the 100m under 17 seconds and I’m itching to join that club.  Only two T52 athletes have done so in 2019. I believe this goal is my next step to put myself in the best position to medal in Tokyo... *trails off into happy podium daydreams*