Discus bronze medallist Matthew Denny ‘plans’ perfect retirement

Discus dynamo Matthew Denny, Australia’s first medallist in the sport, has set his sights on a perfect retirement and everyone from his home town is invited to the pub afterwards.

Paris Olympics men’s discus medallists (from left) Lithuania's Mykolas Alekna, Jamaica's Roje Stona and Australia's Matthew Denny. Picture: AFP

If the curtain falls on Matthew Denny’s athletics career the way he wants it to, his retirement will be one of the most memorable in Aussie sporting history.

Denny is already a history maker in one regard – his bronze in the men’s discus final at the Paris Olympics was Australia’s first ever medal in the event.

The powerhouse thrower however is already dreaming of greater things.

Olympic gold is naturally at the forefront of his mind but if can qualify for both the Los Angeles 2028 and Brisbane 2032 games he would create history again.

“For me that is the goal (appearing at a fifth Olympic Games),” Denny, who has already competed in Rio, Tokyo and Paris, said.

“No one in Australian track and field has ever made five Olympics so there is really two incentives for me.

“One do that, make history and make five but also to make it (the Brisbane Olympic Games) my last comp ever.

“Having my last throw ever to be in the Olympics, hang it up on home soil and hopefully have all of Allora there in the stands and go to a pub after and celebrate.

“That gives me goosebumps and makes me really want to do a good job, finish out a career in something that could be really, really special.

“That’s the goal, that’s plan we feel like it is very achievable but time will tell in eight years.”

Bronze medallist Australia's Matthew Denny celebrates on the podium. Picture: AFP

Growing up in Allora, Queensland, a tiny rural town about two and half hours south west of Brisbane, Denny always dreamt of being an Olympian.

Like most country boys he tried his hand at various sports including swimming, rugby union and athletics when he first attended Toowoomba Grammar School in year 10.

At the end of year 10 he ‘retired’ from swimming and rugby to focus purely on athletics.

Competing at his third Olympic Games in Paris Denny, said the only difference between that young boy and the now 28-year-old is a “few hair follicles less” and “about 60kg”.

“I’m still just a country kid who is having a laugh and being a bit of a s**thead out on the field,” Denny said.

“Being a bit of larrikin and enjoying myself. I have never been one to hide who I am or what I think is funny or enjoy doing.

“Even when I was a kid I was the same at Grammar.

“That conversation that (Toowoomba Grammar School deputy headmaster) John Anderson talks when I made the decision to not do footy and swimming, to focus on athletics.

“That is who I was, that is what I wanted to do. I didn’t care what anyone said.

“That is where I was enjoying myself, finding passion and love in life and no one could tell me different.

“It is no different today, I’m just probably 60kg heavier, a couple of years older and a few hair follicles less.”

Matthew Denny throws in the men’s discus qualifying stage in Paris. Picture: Getty Images

A clearly, relaxed and calm Denny threw 66.83m in qualifying to automatically book his place in the Paris final.

As the second highest rank thrower Denny was among the medal favourites in the final.

In an eventful men’s discus final the Aussie powerhouse finished third – beaten by two Olympic record throws.

Denny had one hand on silver early in the final with his second throw touching down at 69.31cm.

Lithuania’s Mykolas Alekna then set an Olympic record throwing 69.97m to beat the record set by his father Virgiljus at Athens 2004.

Jamaica’s Rojé Stona than bettered Alekna’s mark to claim gold with a throw of 70m

“I’m very proud of the performance,” Denny said.

“It took two guys to make history to beat me.

“We’re doing a lot of things right – it was just one of those comps.

“It’s bittersweet on many things but there is no regret or I wish I did this or did that.

“We did the best we could and fought like crazy.

“There is a lot of different feelings but proud is the overarching one.”

Originally published as Discus bronze medallist Matthew Denny ‘plans’ perfect retirement