NO MORE COULDA, SHOULDA, WOULDA
IN terms of how to win gold medals, Matt Denny laid down the perfect blueprint in the men’s discus final.
The Aussie powerhouse obliterated his rivals with every one of his six throws — two of those were new personal bests — better than the second placegetter.
It was a clinic from Queensland’s favourite plate thrower who celebrated in style with a victory lap at speed although he says he needs work on the final 100m.
The stunning win is confirmation of the 26-year-old’s rise up the ranks given he finished fourth — just 5cm from the podium — at last year’s Tokyo Olympics.
In perfect theatre, Denny left his biggest throw for last with a career best 67.26m and by this stage he already had the title with England’s man mountain Lawrence Okoye (64.99m) taking the silver and Jamaica’s Traves Smirkle bronze (64.68m).
Okoye, who weighs 127kg and has tried out for a number of NFL teams, was pumped for his Aussie mate afterwards.
“F..k this guy, Matt Denny, Matt Denny,” he screamed into the TV microphone as Denny was being in
terviewed. Denny was loving every moment inside Alexander Stadium.
“That’s my best competition ever, consistency and just delivering. I am stoked,” he said.
“I have never run a 300 so fast (in the victory lap), I got a bit gassed on the last bend but I will learn to kick at the end for next time.
“I am over the moon.
“It’s been great.
“I thought I had a 68m there but coulda shoulda woulda, I threw it pretty high on that last one but I was over the moon I replicated on that last one even though you could have gone and packed it in.
“But I wanted to make that statement again and finish off that series.
“This is my first senior title other than world unis, you live for these moments.”
Denny, who finished sixth at last month’s world championships, started with a throw of 65.26m and gradually got better as he put a space on his rivals.
“I think to have that bit of a statement to continually put it in and get those performances I think I am pretty sure that would have come close to a medal at worlds,” he said.
“That’s frustrating. I have done it late but I really pride myself on doing what is needed when it counts and to do that six times in a row today and to really dominate the comp has been great.
“This is just the start, there is more of this to come.”
Denny’s fiancee Mia was in the crowd with the pair to get married later in the year but before that he will be seeking some spending money for the honeymoon in the Diamond League final.
Also in the crowd was high jumper Brandon Starc, holding a sign declaring he was Denny’s Games’ roommate.
Denny had reciprocated the night before when Starc was in his high jump final.
Four years ago at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, Denny dabbled in the discus and hammer throw where he won a silver medal.
After that he turned solely to discus where he has been a model of consistency over the 65m mark, finishing sixth at the 2019 world championships in Doha.
In Tokyo Denny made a statement early, taking the early lead before delivering a then personal best 67.02m on his last attempt to finish fourth which was Australia’s best ever result at major championships in the discus.