Commonwealth Games gold medallist Kurtis Marschall’s coach and family on brilliant win
KURTIS Marschall appeared cool, calm and collected as he shot himself to Commonwealth Games glory, but those around him knew it was not all was smooth beneath the surface.
KURTIS Marschall appeared cool, calm and collected as he shot himself to Commonwealth Games glory, winning gold in the pole vault last week.
But those around him knew not all was smooth beneath the surface in the lead-up to Marschall’s first gold medal and that it was his determined nature that got him over the line on the Gold Coast to secure his first gold medal.
“Despite all appearances, Kurtis wasn’t comfortable in the run up all night, he was struggling to get the right rhythm and hit the right spots each time,” Marschall’s coach, Kym Simons, told the Southern Times.
“He didn’t report back feeling like we were seeing and this wasn’t like a comfortable comp where everything had come together really well and that is a testament to his abilities.”
The Western Districts Athletics Club vaulter pushed through the adversity on Thursday night in his captivating contest with Canada’s 2015 world champion Shawnacy Barber, snaring the win when he cleared 5.70m on his third try.
Simons described Marschall, who he has coached the Happy Valley athlete since he took up the sport at Western Districts, as a fighter.
“Anyone can do well when it’s all coming together and you’re purring along like a nicely tuned engine, but when a couple of cylinders aren’t firing, to be able to hang in there and keep going — that takes a certain type of person,” Simons said.
Marschall’s stepfather, John Westphalen, also pointed to his ability to push himself as one of the reasons for his success.
“He’s a down-to-earth sort of guy, very grounded and the sort of guy that goes about his job and just gets things done,” Mr Westphalen said.
“When he was standing on the podium looking at the Aussie flag going up, which is something he’s watched on television so many times, I think that was when the size of what he had just done dawned on him.”
Marschall missed his first jump in the competition at 5.45m but cleared that height on his second attempt before taking the lead after making 5.55m.
The Canadian Barber dramatically stayed alive, clinching 5.55m on his final try. The rivals then both scaled 5.65m on their first attempts as the tension rose.
It was a different story at 5.70m, with Barber, who was first in jumping order, bombing out — although in his third attempt, the bar momentarily stayed put before toppling, much to the delight of the parochial home crowd.
Marschall claimed gold before turning his attention to Aussie Steve Hooker’s Commonwealth Games record of 5.80m but failed all three attempts at 5.81m.