LARA SHINES FOR HOME MEDAL WIN
Nielsen’s Games’ triumph
HARD work and dedication really is the best formula for success.
It’s not a myth, and it never goes out of fashion. It’s a fact, and Toowoomba’s Lara Nielsen has a 2018 Commonwealth Games medal to prove it.
Nielsen on Tuesday night celebrated a career highlight performance with a third placing in the women’s hammer final at a rain-swept Carrara Stadium on the Gold Coast
The 25-year-old’s throw of 65.03 metres saw her comfortably claim bronze behind winner Julia Ratcliffe of New Zealand (69.94 metres) and 20year-old Australian team-mate Alexandra Hulley (68.20 metres).
Nielsen – a five-time national open hammer champion – eclipsed her previous Commonwealth Games performance four years ago in Glasgow where she finished in ninth place with a throw of 60.18 metres.
Nielsen’s coach of 13 years, Grahame Pitt, joined Nielsen’s family members, fiance Brodie and her Fairholme Athletics Club team-mates in an emotional victory celebration.
“Lara was absolutely in tears, we were all in tears,” Pitt said.
Pitt paid tribute to Nielsen’s ability to overcome any natural athletic short-comings to achieve through desire and a powerful work ethic.
“Winning a Comm Games medal is testament to Lara’s work ethic,” Pitt said.
“She’s a person who athletically doesn’t possess genetic gifts.
“Technically she doesn’t have height and width – what she has achieved has come through sheer hard work.
“Her medal throw was marginally down on her best but consistency has become Lara’s strength in recent years.
“We’ve been through a lot together. There have been a lot of ups and downs.
“Lara is not a full-time athlete.
“She is now engaged and all through her journey Lara has mixed uni studies with working full-time and training as full-time as possible.”
Nielsen’s medal win follows the silver medal victory of fellow Darling Downs thrower and former training partner Matthew Denny in Sunday’s men’s hammer event.
Denny begins his quest for a discus medal at 10 o’clock this morning.
“On form he’s got a good chance of medalling, but his biggest challenge will be overcoming the toll of a gruelling hammer event,” Pitt said.
“He’ll give his best.”