Tokyo Olympics: How Kelsey-Lee Barber became world champion javelin thrower
Growing up Kelsey-Lee Barber never thought for a second she would be going to an Olympics as a javelin thrower. She actually had other plans.
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Kelsey-Lee Barber never dreamt of being a javelin world champion as a kid but now she is.
The vivacious Canberra athlete never thought she would be going to one, let alone two Olympics for javelin, but that’s exactly what will happen next year.
Barber, who became only the ninth Australian to win a world athletics crown last October and had her place on the team for Tokyo confirmed last week, remembers exactly the moment her original plan to get to an Olympic Games changed and a second-choice sport she barely did became her great passion.
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“As a kid I had the dream of going to the Olympics but I actually thought it would be for discus,’’ said Barber who is coached by husband Mike.
“It wasn’t until I was 17 and won at javelin at the Pacific School Games that it changed.
“I hadn’t won a discus comp. I was there or there about. But I came from a background of trying everything and while I had to try and pigeon hole myself I was never comfortable with that so I would do everything.
“I set myself the goal of wanting to be on the Australian ranking list and you had to throw over 40m (in the javelin). I threw 45 and it was an eight metre PB. I was the happiest girl alive.’’
Now being happy and having fun in competition and training is the key to Bakers success – a success she hopes to continue in Tokyo next year with a gold medal
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While her world title in the last event she competed in last year in Doha pretty much assured her of a Tokyo team spot, Barber was still surprised to learn she had been selected.,
“It is lovely to have it official but to be honest I didn’t know it was coming so that has made it better.,’’ said Barber who hopes to compete in a local competition later this year.
“This is wonderful news.’’
The 28-year-old, Rio bronze medallist walker Dane Bird-Smith and three Olympic debutants were all named on the team for the Tokyo Olympics last Thursday.
NSW’s middle distance runners Jessica Hull (5000m), Stewart McSweyn (5000m and
Kelsey-Lee Barber, Rio bronze medallist walker Dane Bird-Smith and three Olympic debutants have been selected to the Australian Olympic Team for the Tokyo Olympics.
Runners Jessica Hull (5000m), Stewart McSweyn (5000m and 10000m) and racewalker Jemima Montag will make their Olympic debut in Tokyo, with Barber and Bird-Smith returning for their second Games.
Hull, Montag, McSweyn and Bird-Smith are all current national champions, winning their titles at national championships held before any COVID-19 event cancellations, while Barber won her javelin world title in Doha in October 2019.