15-year-old jocks key to Kurt Fearnley’s success

“WHEN I wake up and I see those jocks I know it’s a big day.” Kurt Fearnley’s lucky undies delivered again with the Paralympic star taking bronze in the 5000m.

Kurt Fearnley won bronze in the 5000m T54. (Photo by Alexandre Loureiro/Getty Images)

KURT Fearnley’s lucky underwear came in handy again as the wheelchair racing champion bagged his 12th career Paralympics medal in Rio.

“They are 15 years old and they come up above my belly button,” said Fearnley.

“They are blue. Well, at least they started blue. I’m not sure there is a colour to them any more.” The five-time Paralympian donned the undies before he took bronze in the men’s T54 5000m on Sunday (Monday AEST).

“There is no particular mojo in them but when I wake up and I see those jocks I know it’s a big day,” he said.

Kurt Fearnley won bronze in the 5000m T54. (Photo by Alexandre Loureiro/Getty Images)

“I go out there and try to rip shit apart.”

The 35-year-old Fearnley now has all medals of all three hues in the event after claiming gold in Athens and silvers in Beijing and London.

“I would have liked to have made a few different choices in that race but you never dwell — you move forward,” he said.

Kurt Fearnley after being awarded his bronze medal in the 5000m T54.

The veteran’s heart and mind however is focused on the marathon, which he’ll contest on the final day of the Games.

“Marathon is the race that I love. That 42km is something that I have lived for the last 20 years,” he said.

“(But) I do like the 5km and it is nice to stand on the podium for the fourth straight time.” Fearnley has the 1500m to contest in between the two distance events.

Also in athletics on Sunday, five-time Paralympian Angie Ballard nabbed bronze in the women’s T53 400m for her seventh career medal. And 23-year-old Taylor Doyle scored silver in the women’s T38 long jump at her maiden Paralympics.

The Sydneysider, who has an intellectual impairment after surgery for epilepsy proved unsuccessful, leapt a personal best of 4.62 metres.

Originally published as 15-year-old jocks key to Kurt Fearnley’s success