Melbourne Paralympic javelin thrower Madeleine Hogan takes tough road to Rio

MELBOURNE javelin thrower Madeleine Hogan has fought her way back from two knee reconstructions to put herself in contention for a third Paralympics in Rio this year.

Javelin thrower Madeleine Hogan has overcome two knee reconstructions to be in contention for her third Paralympics.

MELBOURNE javelin thrower Madeleine Hogan has fought her way back from two knee reconstructions to put herself in contention for a third Paralympics in Rio this year.

The 27-year-old ruptured her left anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) two weeks before she was due to compete at the 2013 world championships.

Then last year, Hogan ruptured her right ACL in training six days before the 2015 world titles.

“You couldn’t write this, honestly,’’ Hogan said.

Javelin thrower Madeleine Hogan has overcome two knee reconstructions to be in contention for her third Paralympics.

“I’ve got this joke going that I’ve actually been selected for more world championships than I’ve competed at.

“To be honest when it happened (last year), I was pretty much ready to give up javelin.

“But I had the opportunity to do things a little bit differently and I didn’t want to live with the regret of not giving it a go.

“We did an allograft, which is a cadaver graft as opposed to the traditional hamstring (graft).

“The past couple of weeks we’ve come along way, so I’m feeling pretty positive.’’

Hogan claimed bronze medals for Australia at the 2008 Beijing and 2012 London Paralympics.

While she is yet to qualify for Rio, she is hoping to secure her ticket to the Games at a meeting in Townsville next month.

“I’m leaving it quite late ... I missed all of the summer season (after the knee reconstruction) and I’m trying to sneak one in a few weeks,’’ Hogan said.

“I think this (Paralympics) would be a special one because of what I’ve gone through.’’

Hogan started javelin after attending a Paralympic talent identification program in 2006, having previously represented her state twice in under-19s women’s cricket.

She will guide the next wave of Games hopefuls at the Australian Paralympic Committee’s “Talent 4 Tokyo” talent search day at Essendon Football Club in Tullamarine on Saturday.

“I played cricket for many years and ... the idea of javelin grew from that being able to throw a cricket ball, you could throw a javelin which is not as similar as I first thought,’’ she said.

“In terms of skills, there were not many skills that I could take over from cricket, but I think that’s why I enjoyed it because it was something new that I was learning.

“I think (the talent search) is great, especially for the younger athletes coming through who might not be sure to where to start.’’

Hogan has not looked back since making her switch to athletics, but is looking ahead to the prospect of adding to her two Paralympic bronze in Rio.

“I’m on hat-trick, so if I could snatch another bronze, how great would that be?’,’’ Hogan said.

“I might even go a couple better and try and get a gold.’’

Originally published as Melbourne Paralympic javelin thrower Madeleine Hogan takes tough road to Rio