Bring on American challenge, says Walsh
BIG Tom Walsh doesn’t need to glance in his rear-view mirror to know there is pack of oversized Americans coming after him in 2018. The assured smile on his face suggests it’s not a situation he is intimidated by.
The Christchurch-based Timaru thrower turned the shot put world on its head earlier this year when he shook off a groin injury and a protest controversy to stun hot favourite Ryan Crouser and his American teammate Joe Kovacs and take gold at the IAAF world championships in London.
But now as he contemplates a 2018 season that will take in the defence of his world indoors title in Birmingham, the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast and another tilt at the Diamond League crown he gave up to American Darrell Hill at the Brussels season-ender, he is very much aware of having morphed from the hunter to the hunted.
‘‘Oh yeah,’’ says Walsh when asked about the looming American challenge. ‘‘It’s obviously a different place for me to be on the top. I’ve always been the underdog and I’ve always been trying to chase the top guys.’’
But Walsh, speaking at Athletics NZ’s launch of their revamped international series for 2018, said it would be business as usual from his perspective in 2018.
‘‘I go into every competition trying to throw far, trying to win, so it doesn’t change my mentality at all. I relish their challenge, mate. I’m a competitive bugger.’’
As Walsh looks back on his historic 2017 achievements, there is a lot of satisfaction, but just a smidgeon of discontent. That season-ending misfire in Brussels, where he threw just 21.38m to finish sixth, has left him with the motivation to fuel his busy summer of training.
‘‘It was the only one I was frustrated about ... one of those comps where nothing clicked.
‘‘In saying that, I threw 21.38, and two years earlier I won the same competition with 21.37. It’s not like I threw crap, the standard has just gone through the roof. That was annoying but the total picture was pretty right.
‘‘I was over the moon about the world championship, but I always feel like I’ve got stuff to improve on.’’
Speaking of which, 2018 is set to get busy quickly for Walsh who is just putting the finishing touches on the house he has built STUFF for himself in Christchurch. He will compete in the Commonwealth Games trials in Napier in late-January, before heading over- seas for his buildup to the world indoors in Birmingham (March 1-4).
Then he will return to take part in the Athletics NZ international series, which includes special shot events in Timaru (March 14) and Christchurch (March 16), ahead of the Games on the Gold Coast, and beyond that another Diamond League campaign.
For Walsh his world indoors crown – and that American challenge – is the priority.
‘‘It all starts with the world indoors, and taking care of business there. I’ve got my crown there to hold on to. The Commonwealth Games is not as important to me as the worlds, but it’s very important to the New Zealand public, and I’m aware of that.
‘‘Any time I wear that black singlet, it’s a big meet for me.’’