Mickle has warm feel in uniform
It might be just cloth with stitching, but for WA javelin star Kim Mickle her new Commonwealth Games uniform provides a warm and fuzzy feeling.
Just as well. While the four-yearly sporting extravaganza is being held in the northern hemisphere summer, temperatures in host city Glasgow next month will be similar to those experienced in a local winter.
And with a lot of time between throws, Mickle expects to be rugged up while awaiting her opportunities to strive for gold.
Mickle has enjoyed an outstanding 12 months, taking a silver medal at the world championships, a ninth national title and the Australian record (66.83m) to advance to Glasgow a hot chance to claim a first Commonwealth crown.
The honours have generated a high degree of enthusiasm going into the Games for the normally bubbly 29-year-old. The buzz jumped several notches with the arrival of event gear yesterday.
"This will be the third time I've got to wear the green and gold at a Commonwealth Games so this is pretty special," Mickle said.
"When you're a sprinter you're on the track for 10 seconds so it doesn't matter, but javelin throwers are out there for an hour-plus so we have to make sure we stay warm. As long as I'm prepared for coldness, I'll be fine, so just look for the person in a beanie, gloves and electric blanket."
What is indisputable is Mickle's sizzling arm. Her throw of 66.60m at last year's world titles, which inspired much confidence into a career beset by injuries, would have easily claimed gold at the 2010 Commonwealth Games.
But Mickle and coach Grant Ward are steadfast in their faith she can find extra distance since the wounds - after broken ribs, back spasms and a twice reconstructed elbow - have healed. To the athletics world, Mickle can strike fear with the spear.
"Everyone asks how far can I throw and to be honest I have no idea," Mickle said when asked whether the 67m or 68m mark was possible. "The Aussie record of 66.83m still wasn't a perfect throw so there is definitely more room to move."
