OLYMPIAN TURNS TO COACHING
ANLEZARK SETS UP JUNIOR SQUAD
glemm@thechronicle.com.au TRIPLE Olympians never really walk away from their sport. They just take a break until they find a way of giving something back.
Three years after calling an end to his own memorable career, Toowoomba shot putter Justin Anlezark is now working with his first squad of junior throwers.
Anlezark, 36, retired from competition in January, 2010 after
I can help fine tune athletes.
– Justin Anlezark
establishing himself as Australia’s greatest shot putter.
The highlight of his injury-hampered career were Olympic appearances at Sydney, Athens and Beijing and a Commonwealth Games gold medal at Manchester in 2002.
His personal best shot throw was 20.96 metres, while he has also thrown the discus more than 59 metres.
After retiring, Anlezark was involved in a program called Pro Active Future, aimed at teaching Little Athletics competitors the benefits of nutrition, fitness and goal setting.
Anlezark now works for FK Gardner, but is devoting Sundays to training a group of juniors including his daughter Holly.
“I did a bit of individual coaching last year, but this is my first squad of kids,” Anlezark said.
“Toowoomba already have a couple of great throwing coaches in Grahame Pitt and Adrian Layden and I’m not about wanting to take athletes away from other coaches.
“But I’ve been approached by a couple of parents to work with their children, and I’m very humbled to have the chance to help create a pathway for them.
“I can help fine tune athletes and I’m happy to have a little squad together, and maybe find our next national, Commonwealth or Olympic champion.
“I try to coach kids how I would have liked to have been coached when I was their age.
“All our squad members threw PBs in competition last week, and you can’t ask for anymore than that.”