Families give sport their best shot
Young and old try shot put ahead of 2022 Games in UK
Kids and adults alike headed to Rotorua’s waterfront to give shot put a go on Saturday, some for the first time.
With the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games kicking off at the end of July, four cities around New Zealand are getting the chance to try their hand — and throw — at shot put.
More than 4500 athletes from 72 nations and territories will attend the games over the 11 days of competition. New Zealand will be represented by up to 230 athletes, competing in about 20 sports and three Para sports.
Give it Your Best Shot involved a shot put circle touring Auckland, Rotorua, Wellington and Christchurch.
The event was held in Rotorua on Friday and Saturday, visiting O¯ whata School and Sunset Primary School on the first day.
Marvel Experiences partner Scott Wallace was helping run the event for the New Zealand Olympic Committee.
He said it was important for people to be active and the touring shot put circle gave children and adults a chance at trying the sport.
It was a mix of people finding it fun and saying, “oh, I’m not sure if I will be good at this”, he said.
Rotorua’s own Paralympic F37 shot putter and F38 discus thrower Lisa Adams attended the school and public events. The athlete won gold in the shot put on her Paralympic Games debut in Tokyo last year.
She said Give it Your Best Shot was about generating some interest ahead of the Commonwealth Games and was good for the city.
“I think it is important for a community like Rotorua. I think it’s cool to get people involved. Just have a go.”
The public event was held between 10am and 2pm on Saturday and men, women and children of a range of ages participated.
Among them was 10-year-old Alana Thomson who did not think she would make a career of it, but still tried it out nonetheless.
While Alana was not much of a fan of the sport, Rae Mutu found herself enjoying it. She had never picked up a shot put in her life, but the only criticism she had was that she thought there should be an over 70s category.
“It was good fun. It’s wonderful to see Lisa here, that’s very special,” Mutu said.
Jayne Hendrikse had not picked up a shot put since her school days but said the coaching helped put her in good form to throw.
“I think the sound effects helped it to go a bit further too.”
Among children taking part were 4-year-old Luca Rose Van den Brook and 7-year-old Zaeleah Corfield. It was Luca’s birthday and the family enjoyed watching her aunt Jamie Lee O’brien launch the shot put.