Aussie Olympian Inspires
The 2014 Commonwealth Games gold medallist visited the Yacht Club last Tuesday as a special guest speaker at the Positive Club Culture Club Forum, where she shared her experiences in how sporting clubs can help to develop strong, positive cultures.
On Wednesday morning a breakfast was held at the One Mile Jetty by the Carnarvon Chamber of Commerce and the Department of Sport and Recreation.
She later met with members from the Carnarvon PCYC and Clontarf Academy at the Bardie Grub cafe to discuss how everyone had a part to play in helping the community.
During the breakfast Mickle spoke on topics including team work, achieving and maintaining goals and making better citizens through the impact of sport.
She said she believed sport had the power to be a vehicle for positive social change in the community.
“Sport in general in Australia is huge for communities,” she said.
“Not only do you meet new people and learn about other people’s stories, but you learn so much out of how people portray themselves and also how they conduct themselves through sport.
“I’ve pretty much met all my great friends through sport and it has helped to develop me into the person I am today.”
The Australian record holder credited her parents along the way, and was keen to stress the attitude of clubs and the volunteers that help make them run was crucial to their success.
“In terms of making sport better in a community, it really does come down to volunteers and the attitude that people bring with them when trying to make things work,” Mickle said.
“There are so many talented kids out there just waiting to be spotted.”
Speaking on her own ambitions for the rest of 2015 and the build up to the 2016 Rio Olympics, Mickle has set the bar high.
“I want to throw another Australian record this year and normally that would get a gold medal at a world meet,” she said.
“But, in saying that, I have no control over what other girls are going to throw so I can only focus on myself.
“That will then reboot me into another Olympic year and they are always hectic.”
Training for 11 months of the year with 14 training sessions a week, the daily grind to be one of the best in the world is relentless.
“I only throw the javelin three times a week. If you do anything more than that you will break down,” she said.
“But I’m in the gym every day except Sunday, and I do weightlifting, plyometrics, gymnastics, yoga, sprint and hurdle sessions.”
Despite the intense schedule she maintains a strong passion for the sport and wants to see as many people as possible exercising for their physical and mental health.
“I just want to make people aware that for the one hour of the day that it might be a little bit uncomfortable doing some exercise, for the 23 other hours of the day you are going to be feeling great.
“Don’t let anyone tell you can’t do it … I’ve been told I’m too small to be a javelin thrower and I’ve proven so many people wrong.”
