Father figure Helps Timmers reach goals
The relationship between Nenad Peisker and Zoe Timmers is more like father and daughter than coach and athlete.
Timmers, who is preparing for her Commonwealth Games debut in Glasgow, credits Peisker with much more than helping her get to the biggest competition in her 13 years as a high jumper.
With her biological father absent, Peisker filled a huge hole in her life through her teenage years - and still is doing so.
"He's been my one and only coach," Timmers said.
"He's very proud I'm going to Glasgow and I'm happy that I'm making him proud."
Timmers took a break after she just missed selection for the New Delhi Games in 2010, but has worked hard over the past two years before earning her place this time around by jumping a B-qualifying mark of 1.86m.
"I would love to be on the podium," she said. "Nenad and I think it is within my capabilities to win a medal, but my goal was just to make the team and anything that comes from there would be a massive bonus."
Timmers, a full-time physical education and health teacher at St Hilda's, hopes she will also get to next year's world championships and the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in 2016.
"I have only just turned 25 and with high jump, the older you get, if your body holds up, the better you get," she said.
"I haven't really reached my peak yet and I have got a good five years left in me."
Peisker, who moved to Perth from Croatia almost 20 years ago, said he took his responsibility as both Timmers' coach and father figure very seriously.
Peisker said Timmers would need to produce her best jump of 1.87m to be among the medals in Glasgow and believes she has 1.90m-plus in her at some stage.
"In her career she has proved that she is quite good in big events," he said.
"And you never know."
It will be Peisker's third Commonwealth Games as coach after he went to Melbourne and New Delhi with Ellen Pettit.
He is hoping Timmers can get him to his first Olympics.
"We are together 12 years," Peisker said.
"Her persistency and determination are important for success in the event.
"I am definitely optimistic for her that this is not her peak, that there is a little bit spare in her career.
"We have changed a lot in the last year-and-a-half and she physically and mentally has responded.
"I can see more height there."
"He's very proud I'm going to Glasgow and I'm happy that I'm making him proud."" *Zoe Timmers *
