Ain’t broke, don’t fix
High jumper stays with game plan for Rio
ELEANOR Patterson will rely on a proven recipe for success in her bid to make an impression at her first Olympic Games.
The Leongatha high jumper will continue to train at the oval at Mary MacKillop College, Leongatha with her childhood coach David Green, in preference to training with Athletics Australia – an arrangement that reportedly comes with funding of $30,000.
The partnership between Patterson and Green – her coach of eight years – has already resulted in a Commonwealth Games gold medal, a world youth title and a personal best jump of 1.96m – a height Patterson has repeated twice.
Patterson was naturally “excited” about her Olympic selection, after winning the national title with a jump of 1.9m at the Australian Athletics Championships in Sydney recently.
“It’s a huge honour, there’s no doubt. My coach (Green) and I have been working hard and putting in a lot of effort, and we are looking forward to the next four months,” she said.
Coach and athlete will plan a thorough schedule of training and competition, but Patterson is not setting herself expectations for the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
“We are just taking it one step at a time and focusing on preparing and leaving no stone unturned, and putting that effort in to the best of my ability,” Patterson said.
“I’m not focusing on any other athlete, rather just improving myself.”
Patterson did not wish to comment about funding available from Athletics Australia, instead emphasising she was fortunate to have Green “around the corner” and South Gippsland barracking for her.
“We will work hard and I also have my friends and family supporting me. The community’s support has also been fantastic,” she said.
Green will join Patterson in Rio.
Patterson first competed in athletics at St Laurence’s Primary School in Leongatha, and Leongatha Little Athletics Club, winning state and national titles, before progressing to the South Coast Athletics Club which she described as “like family”.
“As a young kid, you always have big hopes and dreams, and doing athletics, I loved what I did and I wanted to improve, and despite all the hard work I have put in, it’s still a brilliant feeling,” Patterson said.
Patterson has secured sponsorship deals with vitamin company Swisse and sporting apparel company adidas, and will feature in a television advertisement for Swisse, filmed in Leongatha. She was also named as one of 14 new Swisse ambassadors for the company’s 2016 Olympic campaign.
“I’m lucky to have their support as well and would not be able to compete in the competitions that I do without their support,” Patterson said.
The current world record of 2.09m was set by Bulgaria’s Stefka Kostadinova in 1987, but Olympic gold medallists jumped 2.05m in London in 2012 and in Beijing in 2008.
“I will just focus on preparing the best I can and improving, and whatever happens, happens,” Patterson said.
While she will now train full-time, Patterson is also contemplating life outside of athletics.
“I’m not sure what I will be doing next,” she said.
Patterson is the daughter of Mark and Helen Patterson, and a sister to Ben, Matilda and Julian.
Short URL: /?p=18117
Posted by Tayla Kershaw on Apr 12 2016. Filed under Sport. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry
