Steve Hooker - Legend

[softlaw]

Won pole-vaulting gold at the World Championships with a serious leg injury.
Hasn't been able to train in a couple of months or so.
Managed 1 jump a few days ago to qualify & was in serious pain.
Managed 2 jumps (missed first one so upped the height & got it) to win the world championship.
Tough, tough effort!
http://www.smh.com.au/world/injured-hooker-defies-pain-to-claim-gold-20090823-euox.html

 

[Peaches]

Track and field has long been an area where this great country has struggled. Great effort from Steve to even attempt it let alone win it.

Also congratulations to the young discus thrower who won gold, Dani Samuels I think. A local I believe. And the young man Watt who got a bronze in the long-jump.

I don't what to go of topic, but these sports are the olympic events. The possibilities of golf and rugby sevens entering the olympics makes me a little sad. Already tennis is in there and to a lesser extent basketball and age-restricted soccer. The olympics is a once in a 4 year event where those athletes who compete in sports which don't have the World Cups and Championships apply their skills at its highest level. These guys train extremely hard and often need jobs to maintain their chances for olympic god. They like Steve hooker can become household names and get their time to shine. It is sports like the track and field, shooting, archery, badminton, cycling and gymnasium events which should occur in the olympics. They are the sports I attempt to tune-in to where dreams are acheieved or are just out of grasp. Where 4 long years of training culminises in one moment. I don't think somone like Tiger Woods or Matt Giteau, etc could ever understand this in their current sports.
I know the Olympics should have the very best of sporting athletes competing but its not the pinnacle for some sports.