Bronze and silver, now teen goes for gold

WITH a silver and bronze medal already to his name, Sam Walker wants to complete his medal collection.

Walker competed at the first World Junior ParaAthletics Championships in Switzerland last week and has returned home with a bronze medal in the 100m and a silver medal in the long jump.

Yet even with the two medals Walker wasn’t content with his efforts.

“I could have done better,” the 14-year-old said. “Hopefully next time I can get the gold in the 100m.”

Given his age, Walker’s achievements are quite impressive, especially given the fact the championships are for athletes aged 18 and under. Being so young Walker will be able to compete in the next under18 para-athlete championships in 2019 and he wants a gold medal around his neck.

“I’m looking forward to going again and trying to get a gold,” Walker said.

Like fellow Tasmania athlete Deon Kenzie, Walker competes in the T38 class for athletes with cerebral palsy.

The Year 9 Dominic College student broke the Australian record for his class on his way across the finish line in the T35-T38 100m event in a time of 12.19 seconds.

Walker crossed the line first in an impressive run, but given the low amount of participants, the event was run as a multi-class race. This meant under the points system Walker was awarded a bronze medal.

Walker’s main expertise is the 100m and 200m sprints, but after being asked to also go in the long jump, he may have found another event to succeed in.

“I wasn’t meant to go in it [the long jump] but I did and in the end finished with a silver medal,” he said. “I have only ever trained for it once before.

“I might keep training for it in the future.”