Next time Pitcher says he’ll ‘bring home gold’
He still remembers standing on the podium with his medal around his neck.
Keegan Pitcher said it was ‘‘the best feeling in the world’’.
The 19-year-old represented New Zealand at the World Paralympic Championships in the United Kingdom in July.
It was his first year in athletics and also the first time the teenager with cerebral palsy competed in an international competition.
For a first-timer he has certainly made his mark on the athletics scene.
Pitcher created a new record for New Zealand with a bronze medal in the 400-metre T36 race with a time of 55.23 seconds.
He got third place with a bronze medal in the 800m T36 race, with a time of 2:13.49.
But that’s not all – he also created a world ranking for himself, by winning seventh place in the 200m T36 race.
The New Zealand team brought back two silver medals and three bronze medals, two of these medals were won by Pitcher.
The Henderson resident said he was not expecting to win, but he was glad to see his hard work pay off.
Pitcher said he was still ‘‘processing’’ the feeling of winning the honours for his country.
The University of Auckland student said he struggled with balance because of his cerebral palsy – a movement disorder that affected the whole body.
It was mainly in his arms and legs, causing his hands and arms to sometimes shake.
But Pitcher said his coach trained him well to be part of the championships held at the London Olympic Stadium.
‘‘We had a lot of track sessions and we also worked on speed.’’
With a career that has already started with flying colours, he had big plans.
‘‘Eventually I want to bring home gold.’’
T36 was a classification of disability athletics, where runners have all four limbs affected by their disability.
Away from the environment of being an athlete, Pitcher was studying to be a teacher.
Two years ago he was named the overall top male athlete in the Halberg Junior Disability Games.