Olympian Matt Denny welcomes campaign
FROM humble beginnings growing up in Allora, discus thrower Matt Denny turned hard work, a bit of luck and pure determination into two Olympic Games campaigns and a Commonwealth Games silver medal.
Now he wants to make sure more rural kids get the chance to fulfil their Olympic dreams — and it starts by building proper sporting infrastructure in Toowoomba.
“There was no real avenue for me, it was all just self-drive and dedication,” he said.
“I wouldn’t be the athlete I am without the process, but in saying that if we are focused to get more rural athletes to the Olympics and have a higher success rate, that process has to be put in.
“There are a lot of people who didn’t have the right pathway or support to get where they wanted.
“Rural communities don’t have the facilities that they deserve, so I’m passionate about bringing elite sport and education services to rural areas.”
Mr Denny is one of the guest speakers at The Chronicle’s Future Toowoomba luncheon on December 3 at Wellcamp Airport, alongside five-time Olympian Nat Cook.
After coming within 5cm of a medal at Tokyo earlier this year, Mr Denny said he wanted to see other young stars experience the Olympic feeling.
He said proper sporting infrastructure that could host state and national meets needed to be a priority.
“Toowoomba needs an actual athletics track that’s accessible for everyone,” Mr Denny said.
“We have Glennie but it’s getting quite old, so we need a public track similar to QSAC where we can bring international camps over, an area where people can actually train and compete.
“If you’re able to train on actual tartan, comps can come to Toowoomba rather than us going out to other places.”
Mr Denny said the city’s key community leaders needed to make it easy for other national teams to be able to set up camp in the city, saying some countries could be willing to upgrade infrastructure.
The Future Toowoomba luncheon will be held at Wellcamp Airport on December 3 from 11.30am.
For tickets, head to futuretoowoomba2021.splashthat.com.