Matt Denny a step closer to claiming gold medal in Paris

From making a splash in GPS pools to the discus circle, Matthew Denny has thrown caution to wind as he aims to turn his year 10 Olympic dream into a gold medal in Paris.

Matthew Denny throws during qualification for the final of the men’s discus final at the Paris Olympic Games. Picture: Getty Images

Watching Matthew Denny’s discus sail past the 66m mark was a ‘full circle’ moment for Toowoomba Grammar School deputy headmaster John Anderson.

The ease of Denny’s 66.83m throw and his calm, relaxed demeanour in Paris instantly reminded Anderson of the same athlete he first saw throwing for Grammar in 2011.

“In the (Grammar) school house, while he was boarding naturally his throwing was a big focus, he was still a big part of the school community,” Anderson said.

“He wanted to represent his house however he could. He was a likeable, really approachable guy and had that air of confidence you need to go to the next level but he was still a top bloke.

“Looking at him throw in some of his earlier Olympics, early in his career, you could see there was some tension and stress there which is understandable.

“I think last night (Tuesday) watching him throw was a little bit more like back when he was at school when he knew he could do it.

“He knew his stuff, he was confident. He looked pretty relaxed.

“It was like a full circle, he looked very happy, settled and it was a joy to watch.”

Denny joined Grammar as a boarder in year 10, making the move to Toowoomba from his family’s property in nearby Allora.

Matthew Denny qualified for the final of the men’s discus with a throw of 66.83m Picture: Getty Images

The student-athlete Anderson met in his role as then Grammar director of sport and activities was very different to the athlete the international athletic community knows now.

Like most Grammar boys Denny was a keen rugby union player but one of his first forays in GPS sport was as a swimmer.

“He (Denny) was a delightful, happy lad,” Anderson said.

“He came in as a boarder in year 10 and I could just tell he was a focused person right from the start.

“We knew he loved his sport, he was very athletic, he represented the school in GPS swimming in his first year just because he was a good, strong athlete.

“Being a big lad he played a bit of rugby as well, he enjoyed his football.

“I’ll never forget though he came to me toward the end of his first year and said ‘Sir look I do love my footy but moving forward I want to focus on my athletics because I have a dream I’d like to compete at the Olympics one day with my throws’.

“For a year 10 boy I thought that was very mature but I also remember how focused and determined he was.”

From that moment on Denny was a force to be reckoned with going on to represent Australia at world junior, youth and senior championships as well as the Commonwealth Games.

Paris marks the second time he has competed at the Olympic Games with the now 28-year-old missing out on bronze in Tokyo by just 5cm after a throwing a then personal best of 67.02m in the final.

Anderson said he knew Denny’s statement was no throw away line.

“It’s the way people look you in the eye and the way they are confident and have belief,” Anderson said.

“I could tell instantly he was going to take things seriously.

“With his general all around sporting ability and with the athleticism and power he already shown the potential was there.

“I also appreciate that you need a lot of things to come together. You need family support, good grounding, coaching, a bit of luck and great mentors on and off the field.

“He (Denny) was fortunate for a lot of that to come together but at the same time he’s worked extremely hard throughout it all.”

The men’s discus final gets underway from 4.25am Australia time on Thursday, August 8.