1 00:00:06,667 --> 00:00:10,467 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine 2 00:00:10,707 --> 00:00:15,107 Speaker 1: from Newstalks EDB, the Voice of Sport on your home 3 00:00:15,147 --> 00:00:19,587 Speaker 1: of Sport. Weekend Sport with Jason Vine and GJ. Gunner Holmes, 4 00:00:19,827 --> 00:00:22,147 Speaker 1: New Zealand's most trusted home builder, News. 5 00:00:21,947 --> 00:00:25,467 Speaker 2: Talks EDB eighteen to three. This weekend, the wheel Blacks 6 00:00:25,467 --> 00:00:28,707 Speaker 2: are celebrating the twentieth anniversary of their gold medal winning 7 00:00:28,747 --> 00:00:32,907 Speaker 2: success at the two thousand and four Athens Paralympics. Grant 8 00:00:33,107 --> 00:00:36,547 Speaker 2: Sharman was coach of the team, having captained the Whelblacks 9 00:00:36,547 --> 00:00:39,707 Speaker 2: to bronze medals at the Paralympic Games in nineteen ninety 10 00:00:39,747 --> 00:00:43,507 Speaker 2: six and two thousand. Grant Sharmans with us, Grant, if 11 00:00:43,507 --> 00:00:45,867 Speaker 2: we look back to two thousand and four and going 12 00:00:45,907 --> 00:00:49,187 Speaker 2: into the Athens Paralympics having won bronze in ninety six 13 00:00:49,507 --> 00:00:52,427 Speaker 2: and bronze again in two thousand, what were your ambitions 14 00:00:52,867 --> 00:00:54,147 Speaker 2: going to Athens? 15 00:00:54,387 --> 00:00:57,427 Speaker 3: Well, actually it really started from two thousand and two, 16 00:00:57,547 --> 00:01:01,867 Speaker 3: so I retired as two thousand and three, Beery, who's 17 00:01:01,907 --> 00:01:03,747 Speaker 3: office the coach, took the boys up to Sweden to 18 00:01:03,787 --> 00:01:06,947 Speaker 3: the World champs and we came sex first time. The 19 00:01:06,947 --> 00:01:09,907 Speaker 3: team with other medals. I was just insensed by this 20 00:01:09,947 --> 00:01:12,427 Speaker 3: because I knew we were a better team and for 21 00:01:12,467 --> 00:01:14,827 Speaker 3: some reason, you know, I felt like to make a 22 00:01:14,827 --> 00:01:17,987 Speaker 3: difference in ib coates, which was quite funny really because 23 00:01:17,987 --> 00:01:22,547 Speaker 3: I never coked before, so talk about hubris. But anyway, 24 00:01:21,347 --> 00:01:25,227 Speaker 3: we got the job, and really what Barry did. He 25 00:01:25,267 --> 00:01:28,067 Speaker 3: gave us a guy called Actually Light and Malcolm Humm 26 00:01:28,587 --> 00:01:31,627 Speaker 3: actually our sports site. Malcolm was our conditioner, some pretty 27 00:01:31,627 --> 00:01:34,187 Speaker 3: good funding, and we really said about rebuilding the team, 28 00:01:34,227 --> 00:01:37,067 Speaker 3: and I think everyone realized that we've don't to perform. 29 00:01:37,147 --> 00:01:39,467 Speaker 3: We had the goods and there was this a whole 30 00:01:39,467 --> 00:01:43,547 Speaker 3: different approach we've been Those top two inches is what 31 00:01:43,587 --> 00:01:47,227 Speaker 3: we'd lacked, and Ashley Light gave us, really gave us 32 00:01:47,227 --> 00:01:49,307 Speaker 3: those top two inches which got us through. 33 00:01:49,587 --> 00:01:52,067 Speaker 2: So you get up there and Paul play, you lose 34 00:01:52,227 --> 00:01:54,707 Speaker 2: to the United States. Even after that lost, did you 35 00:01:54,747 --> 00:01:56,387 Speaker 2: still feel us though? You could go all the way. 36 00:01:57,147 --> 00:02:00,547 Speaker 3: So the US game was actually pivotal. Now what we 37 00:02:00,667 --> 00:02:03,947 Speaker 3: were realized is we won three of the quarters, lost 38 00:02:03,947 --> 00:02:07,147 Speaker 3: the second quarter with a lineup that had been doing well, 39 00:02:07,187 --> 00:02:11,427 Speaker 3: but we just didn't perform. And I was curious we 40 00:02:11,427 --> 00:02:14,227 Speaker 3: should have won that game. You know, I was a 41 00:02:14,227 --> 00:02:16,987 Speaker 3: pretty grumpy coach going in and it was one of 42 00:02:16,987 --> 00:02:21,067 Speaker 3: those verriccasions where a selection proved the difference. So we've 43 00:02:21,067 --> 00:02:23,387 Speaker 3: got one player, real good player, replaced him with another 44 00:02:23,427 --> 00:02:27,907 Speaker 3: player who had the team ethos and his comments around 45 00:02:27,947 --> 00:02:31,307 Speaker 3: knocking on court, but his heart was good. Just dissolved 46 00:02:31,307 --> 00:02:33,507 Speaker 3: the moment and I think was one of the key 47 00:02:33,547 --> 00:02:35,707 Speaker 3: things the Saviors. But what it did do is it 48 00:02:35,747 --> 00:02:37,867 Speaker 3: put the US on a collision course with the Canadians 49 00:02:38,587 --> 00:02:42,387 Speaker 3: and we then would end up playing the Britains in 50 00:02:42,427 --> 00:02:45,987 Speaker 3: the other semila. And then anyone knows anything about US 51 00:02:46,147 --> 00:02:49,267 Speaker 3: Canadian relations people with sport, they actually hate each other 52 00:02:49,267 --> 00:02:50,827 Speaker 3: as a blood bath and it was a beautiful thing to. 53 00:02:50,787 --> 00:02:54,267 Speaker 2: Watch watching them beat each other up in the other semi. 54 00:02:54,627 --> 00:02:57,987 Speaker 2: Wasn't a surprise though, grant to see Canada win through 55 00:02:58,347 --> 00:03:00,507 Speaker 2: that it was them you would face in the gold 56 00:03:00,507 --> 00:03:02,467 Speaker 2: medal mat in the match and not the United States. 57 00:03:02,947 --> 00:03:07,507 Speaker 3: Well a little surprised, Yes, I think this is weird. 58 00:03:07,507 --> 00:03:10,627 Speaker 3: This docco Murdible was being filmed at the same time 59 00:03:10,667 --> 00:03:13,227 Speaker 3: in the Americans, with the main focus of that with 60 00:03:13,587 --> 00:03:16,707 Speaker 3: Joe saw As a former US coach who was down 61 00:03:16,747 --> 00:03:19,827 Speaker 3: coaching Canada. So they were all focused on that and 62 00:03:19,947 --> 00:03:22,027 Speaker 3: I wonder whether maybe they lost their focus a little bit, 63 00:03:22,027 --> 00:03:25,707 Speaker 3: the distraction, et cetera. But I guess it was one 64 00:03:25,707 --> 00:03:29,267 Speaker 3: of those games that the Canadians decided they were going 65 00:03:29,307 --> 00:03:31,747 Speaker 3: to win it. The Yanks probably already saw themselves in 66 00:03:31,827 --> 00:03:36,867 Speaker 3: the final. It didn't happen, and so well, that's who 67 00:03:36,867 --> 00:03:39,787 Speaker 3: we're facing. I didn't care who faced. I knew we 68 00:03:39,827 --> 00:03:41,667 Speaker 3: had the team to do it. But at the end 69 00:03:41,667 --> 00:03:45,547 Speaker 3: of the day, you know, these gold medal matches stre 70 00:03:45,627 --> 00:03:47,707 Speaker 3: up for grabs, and we've heard the All Blacks and 71 00:03:47,707 --> 00:03:51,107 Speaker 3: the Blackburns and all these teams talk about, you know, 72 00:03:51,307 --> 00:03:53,707 Speaker 3: three season at the moment on the day we did, 73 00:03:53,907 --> 00:03:54,387 Speaker 3: they didn't. 74 00:03:54,987 --> 00:03:56,947 Speaker 2: So let's go back to your semi final. Then it 75 00:03:56,947 --> 00:03:59,987 Speaker 2: was great Britain who you faced. They were unbeaten coming 76 00:03:59,987 --> 00:04:02,067 Speaker 2: into the semi final. You won that thirty nine to 77 00:04:02,507 --> 00:04:04,507 Speaker 2: thirty five to make the gold medal match. Tell us 78 00:04:04,507 --> 00:04:05,307 Speaker 2: about the semi final. 79 00:04:05,787 --> 00:04:07,707 Speaker 3: So it was a really quite a bizarre game. So 80 00:04:07,747 --> 00:04:11,187 Speaker 3: there one really there's some good players, one real standout player, 81 00:04:11,867 --> 00:04:14,267 Speaker 3: and we were a little concerned because when you get 82 00:04:14,267 --> 00:04:16,747 Speaker 3: in the quarters and semis and things must when games. 83 00:04:17,147 --> 00:04:20,587 Speaker 3: It didn't go wrong, but on the day the guys 84 00:04:20,667 --> 00:04:24,227 Speaker 3: just fired and so it sounds like a training run, 85 00:04:24,867 --> 00:04:28,347 Speaker 3: but we targeted this guy and we gave him absolute 86 00:04:28,387 --> 00:04:32,187 Speaker 3: hell and he kind of lost the plant of it, 87 00:04:32,907 --> 00:04:36,307 Speaker 3: and that was really the destruction. And in the end, 88 00:04:35,987 --> 00:04:39,867 Speaker 3: if I remember talking about that game except being yeah, 89 00:04:40,107 --> 00:04:42,187 Speaker 3: it was pretty good to beat the poems, I said 90 00:04:42,227 --> 00:04:45,747 Speaker 3: with that, but it wasn't really a maker. But it 91 00:04:45,787 --> 00:04:48,147 Speaker 3: didn't need the same memories as obviously the gold medal game. 92 00:04:48,707 --> 00:04:50,627 Speaker 3: It really we won quite easily and I was like, 93 00:04:50,627 --> 00:04:51,707 Speaker 3: oh yeah, job. 94 00:04:51,547 --> 00:04:54,267 Speaker 2: Done, all right, and on to the gold medal game 95 00:04:54,387 --> 00:04:57,907 Speaker 2: Canada thirty one twenty nine grant that feels close to me? 96 00:04:58,067 --> 00:04:58,547 Speaker 2: Was it close? 97 00:04:59,987 --> 00:05:06,467 Speaker 3: Oh? Yes? So just a fun rugby effect. So in 98 00:05:06,507 --> 00:05:07,907 Speaker 3: the game, and I think you would have seen it 99 00:05:07,947 --> 00:05:13,667 Speaker 3: in the recent coverage of the Paralympics and Paris. You 100 00:05:13,747 --> 00:05:16,347 Speaker 3: want to score last at at the end of every quarter. 101 00:05:16,547 --> 00:05:18,587 Speaker 3: There's some good reason about that, but you want to 102 00:05:18,587 --> 00:05:22,027 Speaker 3: score last at the every quarter, and we did. We 103 00:05:22,027 --> 00:05:25,587 Speaker 3: were down the first quarter by I think it was two, 104 00:05:25,827 --> 00:05:29,307 Speaker 3: half time, down by one, three quarters with level and 105 00:05:29,307 --> 00:05:32,747 Speaker 3: then we went to win, but every time we scored last, 106 00:05:32,787 --> 00:05:35,587 Speaker 3: and then the you know when you shake hands at 107 00:05:35,587 --> 00:05:38,867 Speaker 3: the end, that the coach Joe Huge, and he said, 108 00:05:39,427 --> 00:05:41,427 Speaker 3: you bug uscored last every time. I said, I know, 109 00:05:41,747 --> 00:05:46,387 Speaker 3: good a job, but that's and that's really how that 110 00:05:46,427 --> 00:05:49,067 Speaker 3: game was won. But there was also one before that. 111 00:05:49,147 --> 00:05:51,747 Speaker 3: It was one in the approach we took, and that 112 00:05:52,427 --> 00:05:55,627 Speaker 3: you know that the mental skills that the team had, 113 00:05:55,667 --> 00:05:58,387 Speaker 3: we changed the way we played from the first three 114 00:05:58,427 --> 00:06:03,507 Speaker 3: games to the knockout games. One of the stories which 115 00:06:04,187 --> 00:06:05,747 Speaker 3: has been known to bring me to tears a little bit. 116 00:06:05,787 --> 00:06:08,787 Speaker 3: The guys would pay music on the way there and 117 00:06:09,587 --> 00:06:11,747 Speaker 3: it was just awful. It was I have no idea 118 00:06:11,827 --> 00:06:14,067 Speaker 3: was that. It was just terrible. And one day I 119 00:06:14,067 --> 00:06:15,827 Speaker 3: said to look for was it s a little bit 120 00:06:15,867 --> 00:06:18,427 Speaker 3: of Neil Diamond Sweet Caroline before it became the world, 121 00:06:18,747 --> 00:06:21,787 Speaker 3: before it became the world's anthem. And they just said, look, 122 00:06:21,787 --> 00:06:23,787 Speaker 3: you cakes who worded the music? That was all fine. 123 00:06:24,267 --> 00:06:26,507 Speaker 3: On the way to the final they played the stupid music. 124 00:06:26,827 --> 00:06:29,547 Speaker 3: Get to the gates here and the music goes off, 125 00:06:30,027 --> 00:06:32,587 Speaker 3: and I said, rap, what's going wrong here? And then 126 00:06:32,587 --> 00:06:35,187 Speaker 3: they start playing Sweet Caroline. The whole bus was singing, 127 00:06:35,907 --> 00:06:38,227 Speaker 3: and we got to the to the gates, to the 128 00:06:38,347 --> 00:06:41,307 Speaker 3: entrance of the gym, claim to the door. Now I'm 129 00:06:41,307 --> 00:06:43,867 Speaker 3: going awkward were still singing and as we get off 130 00:06:43,907 --> 00:06:46,467 Speaker 3: on first off and I said, the Canadian boys blood 131 00:06:46,467 --> 00:06:48,107 Speaker 3: a good day for a final and they just thought 132 00:06:48,107 --> 00:06:50,627 Speaker 3: we lost our lolly and gone for it. But it 133 00:06:50,787 --> 00:06:53,307 Speaker 3: spoke to the to the approach to the guys. They 134 00:06:53,307 --> 00:06:57,027 Speaker 3: were quietly confident. They know they're doing the work. And 135 00:06:57,107 --> 00:06:59,827 Speaker 3: my team talk before was the game was pretty simple, 136 00:07:00,227 --> 00:07:04,987 Speaker 3: enjoy what you're doing. Sorry, process, stick the process. But 137 00:07:05,027 --> 00:07:07,587 Speaker 3: the biggie was have fun, help fight out there. You 138 00:07:07,587 --> 00:07:09,867 Speaker 3: know you even know when you're back, and they did. 139 00:07:10,107 --> 00:07:12,067 Speaker 3: And I but if on the side, I love that. 140 00:07:12,147 --> 00:07:15,427 Speaker 2: What a great story. So you won gold. How for 141 00:07:15,547 --> 00:07:19,107 Speaker 2: you personally? How did winning gold as coach compared to 142 00:07:19,147 --> 00:07:21,147 Speaker 2: winning bronze twice as a player. 143 00:07:22,627 --> 00:07:24,867 Speaker 3: Well, I think the gold, because it is a gold, 144 00:07:25,427 --> 00:07:29,587 Speaker 3: really stood out. And I think my time as a 145 00:07:29,667 --> 00:07:32,987 Speaker 3: coach I enjoyed more of a player and I love 146 00:07:33,067 --> 00:07:36,747 Speaker 3: playing played with bost of those guys and look we 147 00:07:36,787 --> 00:07:39,067 Speaker 3: had them. We did some pretty good cool stuff. But 148 00:07:39,867 --> 00:07:45,347 Speaker 3: I think the being part of a team, and and 149 00:07:46,507 --> 00:07:50,147 Speaker 3: to be clear, my role was more around molding things, 150 00:07:50,147 --> 00:07:52,627 Speaker 3: you know, all the brains was being other tecticians and 151 00:07:53,027 --> 00:07:55,587 Speaker 3: ashing these guys. My job was to make sure. The 152 00:07:55,667 --> 00:07:58,187 Speaker 3: environment was good and the lead up and the environment 153 00:07:58,187 --> 00:08:01,227 Speaker 3: was good at the tournament, and it was just such 154 00:08:01,267 --> 00:08:04,427 Speaker 3: a great feeling of achievement. We set out to do it. 155 00:08:05,107 --> 00:08:09,867 Speaker 3: We've done everything. And I remember, you know, we'd scored 156 00:08:09,907 --> 00:08:12,867 Speaker 3: to put us one ahead, turned the ball over, scored again. 157 00:08:12,907 --> 00:08:15,387 Speaker 3: I looked at the clock. There's like three seconds to go, 158 00:08:15,627 --> 00:08:18,507 Speaker 3: thirty one, twenty nine, and I thought, I think we 159 00:08:18,587 --> 00:08:20,867 Speaker 3: won those. You know, I'm not that smart to illus Jason, 160 00:08:21,387 --> 00:08:25,027 Speaker 3: and and I just made this real sense of calm 161 00:08:25,107 --> 00:08:28,587 Speaker 3: and oh it wasn't that hard, but of course it was. 162 00:08:28,627 --> 00:08:31,467 Speaker 3: It was hugely hard, but there was just sense of serenity. 163 00:08:31,507 --> 00:08:35,027 Speaker 3: And I just remember thinking versus great, just a ps 164 00:08:35,187 --> 00:08:36,987 Speaker 3: that notes in the village that night, obviously that a 165 00:08:37,027 --> 00:08:40,187 Speaker 3: couple of years in Eshni, we having a quiet and 166 00:08:40,227 --> 00:08:42,387 Speaker 3: there and the guys at the front, and I planned 167 00:08:42,387 --> 00:08:44,947 Speaker 3: to retire. That's what we've done, you know. And then 168 00:08:45,027 --> 00:08:47,907 Speaker 3: they started going, oh, we're going to defend it in Beijing. 169 00:08:47,987 --> 00:08:50,187 Speaker 3: And then I stopped drinking. I as well, we'll we'll 170 00:08:50,187 --> 00:08:53,067 Speaker 3: hang on, fellow, what's all this about. No, we're going 171 00:08:53,107 --> 00:08:54,907 Speaker 3: to defend it in Beijing. I said, well, you have 172 00:08:54,947 --> 00:08:57,307 Speaker 3: the World Champs until you start, Yeah, we're gonna do 173 00:08:57,347 --> 00:08:59,227 Speaker 3: that too as well. He's going to coach it. Well 174 00:08:59,267 --> 00:09:02,227 Speaker 3: you are, said, I don't think so. Four years later, 175 00:09:02,347 --> 00:09:02,947 Speaker 3: another four. 176 00:09:02,867 --> 00:09:05,147 Speaker 2: Years in my life gone, brilliant stuff. And there we 177 00:09:05,187 --> 00:09:09,027 Speaker 2: are tweety years on from your gold medal feats in Athens, 178 00:09:09,067 --> 00:09:11,027 Speaker 2: and you're all getting together or most of you are 179 00:09:11,267 --> 00:09:13,947 Speaker 2: you I don't know. Is it like most sports teams 180 00:09:13,947 --> 00:09:17,107 Speaker 2: when you get together twenty years on from a big 181 00:09:17,147 --> 00:09:19,387 Speaker 2: achievement or any period of time on, do you reckon? 182 00:09:19,387 --> 00:09:21,987 Speaker 2: The stories of how you won those gold medals will 183 00:09:22,027 --> 00:09:25,107 Speaker 2: be I don't know, exaggerated a little bit over the weekend. 184 00:09:25,707 --> 00:09:27,747 Speaker 3: So if you've think of the Airwish New Zealand fishermen, 185 00:09:29,827 --> 00:09:32,427 Speaker 3: the goals we scored will have been done on one 186 00:09:32,427 --> 00:09:37,507 Speaker 3: wheel with half a hand behind the back. The efforts 187 00:09:38,067 --> 00:09:41,187 Speaker 3: will be magnified, and we all agree that's the way 188 00:09:41,187 --> 00:09:45,947 Speaker 3: it happened. So absolutely, I mean, Jason, anyone's been in 189 00:09:46,027 --> 00:09:48,507 Speaker 3: any kind of team that that level knows that bullshit 190 00:09:48,547 --> 00:09:51,227 Speaker 3: that gets talked will just be amplified. It's going to 191 00:09:51,227 --> 00:09:53,947 Speaker 3: be a great time. And yeah, we're going to rewrite 192 00:09:53,947 --> 00:09:55,267 Speaker 3: the record books and how we actually run. 193 00:09:55,347 --> 00:09:57,467 Speaker 2: Now that's the reason for getting together, Grant. That's the 194 00:09:57,507 --> 00:09:59,987 Speaker 2: reason for getting together to celebrate these things. So I 195 00:10:00,067 --> 00:10:01,947 Speaker 2: hope you and the rest of the team from two 196 00:10:02,027 --> 00:10:04,507 Speaker 2: thousand and four have an absolutely brilliant weekend. I hope 197 00:10:04,507 --> 00:10:07,827 Speaker 2: the stories are exaggerated and told long into the night. 198 00:10:07,867 --> 00:10:11,747 Speaker 2: You deserve it. A pervotal moment in our Paralympic history, 199 00:10:11,747 --> 00:10:15,227 Speaker 2: the gold medal that the Whirlblacks won twenty years ago 200 00:10:15,307 --> 00:10:17,707 Speaker 2: in Athens in two thousand and four. Great to chat mate. 201 00:10:17,707 --> 00:10:18,747 Speaker 2: Thanks for taking the time. 202 00:10:19,107 --> 00:10:20,307 Speaker 3: Thanks Jase, I really appreciate it. 203 00:10:20,307 --> 00:10:22,267 Speaker 2: Now I appreciate your time, Grant, Grunt Shalman. They're the 204 00:10:22,267 --> 00:10:24,467 Speaker 2: coach of the team that won gold medal, the gold 205 00:10:24,507 --> 00:10:26,747 Speaker 2: medal at the Paralympic Games in two thousand and four 206 00:10:27,307 --> 00:10:32,467 Speaker 2: in wheelchair rugby. Getting together across the weekend to reminiscently. 207 00:10:32,547 --> 00:10:35,707 Speaker 1: For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine. Listen live 208 00:10:35,827 --> 00:10:39,107 Speaker 1: to News Talk zed B weekends from midday, or follow 209 00:10:39,147 --> 00:10:40,707 Speaker 1: the podcast on iHeartRadio.