Taking 2020’s hurdles in stride
A new job, a new coach and a new outlook that takes the pressure off are working out well for Portia Bing
That’s what I’ve come out with in 2020, amodified version of what my
athletic career looks like and long term I feel like it is significantly more
sustainable and that really excites
me. Portia Bing
Auckland hurdler Portia Bing says working full-time has given her the balance in her life she needed in a tough year. Like somanyother athletes, Bing would have liked to have competed at the Tokyo Olympics in 2020, but has had to put that plan on hold because of the coronavirus pandemic.
However, instead of setting anew training plan and stretching everything out for another 12 months, Bing decided to get stuck into a career off the track.
“I decided during (the first) lockdown to start applying for jobs.
“I thoughtwhynot, take those different risks and try to create a slightly different version of what I wantmyathletics life to look like.”
The 27-year-old had been set to train on the Gold Coast in an attempt to qualify for this year’s Olympics, but returnedhome to Auckland.
Shewas going to be coached by Australian great Sally Pearson’s former coach Sharon Hannan, a short-term plan to get her to Tokyo.
However, she returned homeand got a full-time job with the Serious Fraud Office.
“They’re very supportive of people being well rounded and the whole idea of, you don’t just have to be an athlete, you can have a career, build your career and be an Olympian at thesametime.
“There’s no restriction on being one or the other.”
She admits itwas a hectic time trying to train, thinking that the Olympics could still be on and finding a job at thesametime.
But the picture isnow a lot clearer.
“Originally in 2020, I thought I’d re-evaluate after the Olympics, butnowi am sitting here thinking I’ve got a great career, I’ve got a great coach, a good training environment and a good balance.”
“I can do 2021 if Iwant and then there’s the Worldchamps and then the Commonwealthgames— there is no limit or time frame on wheniwant to stopmy athletics.”
Bing said she is in the perfect situation with her lifestyle and feels she could just keep going
forever. “That’s what I’vecomeout with in 2020, amodified version of whatmyathletic career looks like and long term I feel like it is significantlymoresustainable and that really excites me.”
The first lockdown also resulted in a change of coach for the national record holder.
She had been led by Russ Hoggard, but the 91-year-old wasin the vulnerable category because of Covid-19 and so Bing said itmade sense tomoveto James Mortimer, a former national hurdles champion.
Hoggard still does a lot of mentoring for Bing and, while she discusses things with him, he’s not involved on aday to day basis now.
Mortimer supports the environment shewas after.
“I can work full-time and I can still be an athlete, which is actually one of the hardest things to find in an individual sport because the set-up allowsmeto bemorethan just an athlete,” says Bing.
Bing just missed out on gaining an automatic qualifying time at last year’s World Championships in Doha, disqualified for an illegal hurdle after going within 0.01s of the Tokyo standard.
She still hopes that the Olympics will go ahead next year, but admits she’s not worrying about that as muchas she probably would have previously.
“The great thing formeis that I camehome(from the Gold Coast) and established adifferent balance, so if there isn’t an Olympics, Idohave other areas inmylife and I think that’s makingmysport a lot better now.
“I thrive off having other things to go to, I absolutely lovemyjob and the challenges that it brings and so I can go to work all day and then head to training and those different lives work really well for me.”
With Olympic qualifying opening upagain in November, Bing is planning on a summerof domestic competitions with the possibility that they might be able to compete in Australia atsomestage.
While she’s competed at World Championships and Commonwealthgames, the Olympics have so far eluded her and Bing says “it remains onmybucket list”. — RNZ