WHEN Bowraville’s Calumn Hockey was selected to
represent Australia in the Oceania Area Championships in Cairns last month, he realised his dream of
representing his country.
The largely-self taught javelin thrower, who
discovered a natural affinity for the sport after taking part in a school athletics event just four years ago, was excited just to be part of the Australian team – but little did he know that he would take out first place in his event.
After throwing an impressive set of 46.0m, 42.19m and 37.53m during qualifying rounds, Calumn took out the final of the men’s open javelin with an amazing 46.70m throw, putting him on top of the table and collecting the gold for Australia.
Aged just 20, Calumn took on professionally-trained competitors with many years more experience.
“It was a wonderful feeling, I’m still smiling about it,” Calumn told the Guardian. “To represent your country is the pinnacle of any athlete’s dream, but to win your event is just indescribable.”
Competing against athletes from New Zealand, Samoa, Fiji, Nauru, Tonga, New Calendonia, The Cook Islands and other island states, Calumn hoped the experience was just a taste of things to come.
“It was a great experience, I met so many people from
different cultures and I had a great time,” he said.
“I usually throw around 60m in training, so I had a bit of an ‘off’ competition, but luckily it was enough to score me the win.”
Now back to work and study, Calumn is preparing for his next event, the Australian University Games in Adelaide in September.
“The uni games brings together athletes from all Australian universities, so the competition will be tough, but I’m aiming for a medal,” he said.
And his next big goal?
“I’m hoping to take part in the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast in 2018. That gives me six years and by that stage I should be hitting my peak.”
