Jasmine blooms into special talent
SHE’S the Gold Coast athletics marvel with an Olympic champion leading her and an entire club behind her.
Jasmine Williams will head to Abu Dhabi in March next year for a Special Olympics journey which will cap an inspiring rise to the top of athletics.
The 25-year-old, who has Asperger’s syndrome, will compete in the 200m and 400m events barely a decade after taking up the sport.
The coaching of 1984 Olympic heptathlon winner Glynis Nunn has expedited Williams’ road to the top.
So too has the Gold Coast Masters Athletics Club, whose members train with Williams several times each week.
Williams will travel with mum Cherie to Abu Dhabi as she strives to better her personal best times of 31.2sec (200m) and 1min 12sec (400m).
“It will be a great new experience,” she said.
“I know it’s going to be hot. “But I train really hard (and) Glynis is a good coach.”
Williams hailed the involvement of the Masters club as her confidence evolved. “I get to hang out with my friends,” she said of the best bit of her training.
“Hopefully they will cheer me on when I’m over there.”
Nunn says she has witnessed amazing growth of her charge.
“In the time I have been coaching Jasmine I have seen her grow in confidence and tenacity,” she said.
“She works extremely hard at training and always has a smile on her face. She is an absolute pleasure to have in the group.”
Masters club member Karen Lakin said the whole squad would cheer her on.
“When she started she wasn’t the best,” she said.
“She had anxiety and got uptight and refused to do some things.
“But as she has got older she has got more comfortable with us.
“We all encourage her and she has come a long way since she’s been with Glynis.
“We are all so proud of her and hopefully we can help her get some sponsorship.”
The Special Olympics run from March 8-21, with about 7000 athletes from 170 countries competing.
SHE WORKS EXTREMELY HARD AT TRAINING AND ALWAYS HAS A SMILE ON HER FACE
JUNIOR SPORT WITH GLYNIS NUNN: PAGE 39
To help Williams make her trip to Abu Dhabi contact Karen Lakin on 0475 864601.