Why Long Jump?

Why not? Athletics has so much diversity and it has an event for just about everyone.

My mother taught me how to swim when I was young and she was convinced I would become a swimmer - she always thought I was her water baby. I remember when we had our school championships for swimming, I would prepare by having a swim the day before the carnival - not quite the two sessions a day that most swimmers undertake.

My father was a long jumper and high jumper when he was at school. Both of my parents have always been very supportive of my involvement in sport, particularly athletics. I was involved in numerous other sports at school and at the age of 16 years, I was told to make a choice between athletics and my other main sport, indoor volleyball.

I found it difficult to choose between athletics and volleyball. The two major factors that influenced my decision were the ability to fulfil my Olympic dream and the differences between a team sport and an individual sport. Volleyball seemed less predictable in terms of making the Olympics. The Australian Volleyball team would need to qualify to attend the Olympics so even if I made the Australian team, there was no guarantee I would play at the Olympics. Considering the differences between individual and team sports, I enjoy the camaraderie of team sport but I believe you can still find that within individual sports. I remember when I had the game of my life in volleyball, the team lost the game. I don’t like to disappoint my team members but I also don’t like to be disappointed by my team members. In an individual sport, you can only be mad at yourself for your result. I know that in an individual sport, if I perform well, my result will reflect that performance.

I was also influenced by successful Australian athletes like Jane Flemming and Nicole Boegman and inspired by international athletes like Mike Powell and Carl Lewis.

I first competed at State All Schools in the long jump at the age of 10. During high school, I competed at Queensland All Schools predominantly in the long jump, triple jump, 100m and 200m. When you are young, it is usual to try every event in athletics then gradually weed out the unsuitable ones. By the time I finished school I had already started to focus on the long jump. The 200m was out - I always thought it was too long. The triple jump was out - too much force through those joints. The 100m was left behind as I found more success in the long jump. I still enjoy the very occasional 100m but my lack of starts practise and the periodisation of my long jump training only permits me to have a play very rarely.

The long jump suits my speed, strength and explosive power. In the long jump I am also able to use my mind and understanding of biomechanics to improve my technique and minimise injuries, plus I love the feeling I get from the crowd in big competitions. Getting the crowd behind me was not something that I have always enjoyed though. The first time I was clapped-in, I found it off-putting and I ran through the pit.

It is one thing to find yourself in an event / sport and another thing to stay in it. I think long jump is an exciting event. I continue to long jump because I love the feeling of flying, I love the thrill and anticipation of competition, I love the success and feeling of accomplishment. Athletics has introduced me to so many people, places and life. The undesirable feeling of sand everywhere is far outweighed by all the positives.

Just as I believe when you choose a pet, the pet also chooses you, long jump and I chose one another.