1 00:00:06,667 --> 00:00:10,467 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Fine 2 00:00:10,707 --> 00:00:11,787 Speaker 1: from newstalk EDB. 3 00:00:12,707 --> 00:00:15,707 Speaker 2: We're gonna have a conversation with a woman who did 4 00:00:15,747 --> 00:00:20,347 Speaker 2: us all proud. She picked up the very first gold 5 00:00:20,467 --> 00:00:24,867 Speaker 2: medal at the Paralympics. She joins us. Now her name 6 00:00:25,347 --> 00:00:30,267 Speaker 2: is Ana Gramali and hang in there, take a listen 7 00:00:30,427 --> 00:00:31,667 Speaker 2: to this on. 8 00:00:31,667 --> 00:00:32,907 Speaker 1: The inside the New Zealand. 9 00:00:32,907 --> 00:00:36,547 Speaker 3: I see he's looking supremely good. She disappointed in the 10 00:00:36,587 --> 00:00:39,347 Speaker 3: long jim finishing in fourth position, but she's looking up 11 00:00:39,347 --> 00:00:41,467 Speaker 3: at the screen already. It's going to be Ana Gramaldi 12 00:00:41,747 --> 00:00:44,707 Speaker 3: who takes it. Britney Mason I think has taken. 13 00:00:44,427 --> 00:00:45,267 Speaker 4: The silver medal. 14 00:00:48,307 --> 00:00:51,947 Speaker 3: But what a performance from Anna Gramaldi. It is a 15 00:00:52,067 --> 00:00:57,707 Speaker 3: new Oceania record for Ana Gramaldi with a lifetime bearss 16 00:00:57,747 --> 00:01:01,667 Speaker 3: an Oceania record twenty four point seven too is the 17 00:01:01,827 --> 00:01:05,267 Speaker 3: champion in the T forty seven women's two hundred meters final. 18 00:01:05,467 --> 00:01:08,867 Speaker 2: Wow, and what as there was Anna. We are so 19 00:01:09,307 --> 00:01:12,427 Speaker 2: proud of you. A ripping time for you overnight. Of 20 00:01:12,467 --> 00:01:15,067 Speaker 2: course in the evening you said on time, first thing 21 00:01:15,107 --> 00:01:20,427 Speaker 2: this morning, this time around qualifying final itself, tearing away 22 00:01:20,947 --> 00:01:22,267 Speaker 2: for gold. 23 00:01:23,147 --> 00:01:23,747 Speaker 1: Yeah you could. 24 00:01:23,787 --> 00:01:27,027 Speaker 5: Oh, thanks for having me on it's actually been such 25 00:01:27,507 --> 00:01:30,467 Speaker 5: a crazy forty eight hours to me. Yeah, I could 26 00:01:30,467 --> 00:01:32,587 Speaker 5: see it on the big screen that I was in front, 27 00:01:32,667 --> 00:01:34,827 Speaker 5: and I knew that I wasn't going to let anyone 28 00:01:34,867 --> 00:01:35,227 Speaker 5: pass me. 29 00:01:35,307 --> 00:01:35,747 Speaker 4: I wasn't. 30 00:01:35,787 --> 00:01:38,867 Speaker 5: I wasn't running out of guess before the line. Yeah, 31 00:01:38,867 --> 00:01:39,547 Speaker 5: I couldn't hide. 32 00:01:39,587 --> 00:01:39,867 Speaker 4: I haven't. 33 00:01:39,907 --> 00:01:42,307 Speaker 5: I would be terrible playing poker because I would give 34 00:01:42,627 --> 00:01:44,907 Speaker 5: way quite a great hand, like immediately. 35 00:01:44,987 --> 00:01:47,347 Speaker 4: So yeah, yeah, it's hard to keep it in though, 36 00:01:47,427 --> 00:01:50,227 Speaker 4: Haarlem mccham must be hard to keep it in. 37 00:01:50,267 --> 00:01:52,787 Speaker 2: But there must have been a period when you got 38 00:01:52,827 --> 00:01:56,307 Speaker 2: out in front you went, anna, don't mess this up 39 00:01:56,347 --> 00:01:56,947 Speaker 2: from now? 40 00:01:58,187 --> 00:02:00,667 Speaker 4: Yeah, there always is. I mean there's always an opportunity 41 00:02:00,707 --> 00:02:03,547 Speaker 4: to miss it up, and I think, yeah, I just knew. 42 00:02:03,587 --> 00:02:05,627 Speaker 5: I just knew that, Like I had enough in me 43 00:02:05,987 --> 00:02:08,387 Speaker 5: to get that line, and I would have fought with 44 00:02:08,427 --> 00:02:12,467 Speaker 5: everything in my body to get there and to run 45 00:02:12,507 --> 00:02:14,907 Speaker 5: such a good time as well, Like I'm yeah, I'm 46 00:02:14,987 --> 00:02:17,827 Speaker 5: incredibly I'm just proud of that alone. I would have 47 00:02:17,867 --> 00:02:20,667 Speaker 5: been over the moon with just that time and for 48 00:02:20,707 --> 00:02:22,547 Speaker 5: it to be a gold is incredible. 49 00:02:22,267 --> 00:02:25,627 Speaker 2: And Oceania record, I believe in oh so close to 50 00:02:25,667 --> 00:02:27,027 Speaker 2: a world record too. 51 00:02:27,467 --> 00:02:29,867 Speaker 5: No, I can't believe that actually that time, that that 52 00:02:29,947 --> 00:02:32,027 Speaker 5: time's crazy, like the time from this morning. I was 53 00:02:32,067 --> 00:02:35,067 Speaker 5: incredibly shocked and like proud with that, And then I 54 00:02:35,147 --> 00:02:38,187 Speaker 5: knew that I'd slowed down, And so I guess just 55 00:02:38,267 --> 00:02:42,107 Speaker 5: trusting that I had to give everything tonight and that 56 00:02:42,187 --> 00:02:45,587 Speaker 5: I could give everything I'd trained for this, and I 57 00:02:45,707 --> 00:02:49,147 Speaker 5: knew that I me as a person, my personality wouldn't 58 00:02:49,147 --> 00:02:51,227 Speaker 5: even let this opportunity. 59 00:02:50,627 --> 00:02:52,387 Speaker 4: To get away without giving it a really good crack. 60 00:02:52,467 --> 00:02:54,507 Speaker 4: And yeah, that's what we did. 61 00:02:54,947 --> 00:02:57,267 Speaker 2: So you knew toward the end that you were winning 62 00:02:57,307 --> 00:03:00,467 Speaker 2: the race? What about around the beam? Did that flick 63 00:03:00,627 --> 00:03:03,907 Speaker 2: through your thought? Like, hold on, I'm in the lead here? 64 00:03:04,067 --> 00:03:05,347 Speaker 2: Talk us through that period? 65 00:03:06,027 --> 00:03:08,467 Speaker 5: Yeah, for sure, I think, like to be honest, like 66 00:03:08,507 --> 00:03:10,267 Speaker 5: we were talking about it in the middle area and 67 00:03:10,267 --> 00:03:12,027 Speaker 5: we were saying like we could have been the only 68 00:03:12,067 --> 00:03:14,347 Speaker 5: ones on the track, Like it felt like it was silent, 69 00:03:14,467 --> 00:03:16,467 Speaker 5: but I know it was so loud because the crowd 70 00:03:16,547 --> 00:03:21,267 Speaker 5: is incredible, And I think, yeah, I think I knew 71 00:03:21,307 --> 00:03:22,747 Speaker 5: just as we were coming off the ben that I 72 00:03:22,787 --> 00:03:24,867 Speaker 5: was in the front. But it's like, not a time 73 00:03:24,907 --> 00:03:27,227 Speaker 5: to get complacent. These girls have probably ran far more 74 00:03:27,267 --> 00:03:29,947 Speaker 5: twos than I have, and I also didn't really know 75 00:03:30,027 --> 00:03:32,107 Speaker 5: what my body was capable of. I knew that it 76 00:03:32,107 --> 00:03:34,387 Speaker 5: could blow up, like I'm used to running thirty minus 77 00:03:34,467 --> 00:03:36,547 Speaker 5: six times and with a jump at the end, and 78 00:03:36,587 --> 00:03:38,547 Speaker 5: so you never know, like am I going to make 79 00:03:38,627 --> 00:03:42,707 Speaker 5: it to the end, But you know, I knew I 80 00:03:42,747 --> 00:03:44,467 Speaker 5: was and with a shot. If I could get in 81 00:03:44,547 --> 00:03:47,547 Speaker 5: the lead heading onto the straight, or even not in 82 00:03:47,587 --> 00:03:50,107 Speaker 5: the lead, if I could be up near the leader, 83 00:03:50,147 --> 00:03:51,547 Speaker 5: I'd have a shot at winning. 84 00:03:51,787 --> 00:03:55,187 Speaker 2: Yeah, Paralympic could turn to meet a gold Medalistan Grimaldi 85 00:03:55,267 --> 00:03:58,347 Speaker 2: joining us tell us about the time between when the 86 00:03:58,747 --> 00:04:02,867 Speaker 2: qualifying finished and the race itself actually started. That would 87 00:04:02,867 --> 00:04:06,227 Speaker 2: have been a very interesting period to be in Nuoy. 88 00:04:07,147 --> 00:04:08,067 Speaker 2: What did you go through? 89 00:04:08,507 --> 00:04:11,307 Speaker 5: Yeah, I think it's been funny because I haven't really 90 00:04:11,907 --> 00:04:16,187 Speaker 5: ran that mini two's. I ran them earlier on in 91 00:04:16,187 --> 00:04:18,227 Speaker 5: my career, and then I broke my foot the last 92 00:04:18,227 --> 00:04:20,307 Speaker 5: time I tried to run one professionally at the game 93 00:04:20,787 --> 00:04:24,307 Speaker 5: at a World Champs, and we decided I'd never do 94 00:04:24,347 --> 00:04:24,747 Speaker 5: them again. 95 00:04:24,787 --> 00:04:26,387 Speaker 4: So she just threw it out of my mind. 96 00:04:26,587 --> 00:04:28,907 Speaker 5: And then last year's World Champs rolled around and I 97 00:04:28,907 --> 00:04:31,667 Speaker 5: remember watching the final and going, you know what, I 98 00:04:31,707 --> 00:04:34,227 Speaker 5: think it's time to have that conversation about maybe doing 99 00:04:34,227 --> 00:04:36,507 Speaker 5: the two hundred again, and my coach was fully on board, 100 00:04:38,707 --> 00:04:41,547 Speaker 5: and I think this morning I was quite nervous because 101 00:04:41,547 --> 00:04:43,867 Speaker 5: I did she didn't know what I was capable of running. 102 00:04:43,907 --> 00:04:46,467 Speaker 5: I mean, I knew I was probably a pretty good 103 00:04:46,547 --> 00:04:47,147 Speaker 5: enough after. 104 00:04:46,987 --> 00:04:50,867 Speaker 4: That hundred, and to be the now in. 105 00:04:50,827 --> 00:04:55,267 Speaker 5: A position after that after that first race, I think 106 00:04:55,267 --> 00:04:57,747 Speaker 5: it just instilled a lot of confidence in me that 107 00:04:57,867 --> 00:05:00,147 Speaker 5: I knew that put me in a race with anyone, 108 00:05:00,147 --> 00:05:03,187 Speaker 5: and I will fight till I can't fight anymore to 109 00:05:03,227 --> 00:05:06,747 Speaker 5: get to the line. And yeah, I mean I just 110 00:05:06,747 --> 00:05:09,587 Speaker 5: think it relaxed me because I now knew how five 111 00:05:09,627 --> 00:05:11,227 Speaker 5: second I could run, and. 112 00:05:12,587 --> 00:05:14,787 Speaker 4: Yeah, and then man faster again, which is even crazier. 113 00:05:15,187 --> 00:05:17,467 Speaker 2: What happens now? Do you drop everything else and just 114 00:05:17,507 --> 00:05:19,707 Speaker 2: become a SOL two hundred meters specialist? 115 00:05:20,187 --> 00:05:22,947 Speaker 4: Yeah? I don't know. No, I don't know at the moment. 116 00:05:22,987 --> 00:05:28,787 Speaker 5: I'm on holiday already and I'll be obviously all. 117 00:05:28,587 --> 00:05:29,787 Speaker 4: Reflect on everything. 118 00:05:29,867 --> 00:05:33,147 Speaker 5: I mean, the long Jim yesterday was really hard for 119 00:05:33,267 --> 00:05:35,627 Speaker 5: me because that's my bread and butter. That's what I 120 00:05:35,667 --> 00:05:37,787 Speaker 5: love to do and what I'm good at as well, 121 00:05:37,867 --> 00:05:39,467 Speaker 5: and it was just hard to not be able to 122 00:05:39,467 --> 00:05:42,587 Speaker 5: show up the way I wanted to yesterday. But oh 123 00:05:42,627 --> 00:05:47,507 Speaker 5: I got so many incredible, incredibly supporting and loving comments 124 00:05:47,587 --> 00:05:51,427 Speaker 5: yesterday and messages and just from people I don't even know, 125 00:05:51,947 --> 00:05:53,187 Speaker 5: just saying how proud of. 126 00:05:53,627 --> 00:05:54,347 Speaker 4: Me they were. 127 00:05:54,427 --> 00:05:57,347 Speaker 5: And I think that really spurred me on for this, 128 00:05:58,307 --> 00:06:02,867 Speaker 5: hearing that everyone you know still was interested in me, 129 00:06:02,987 --> 00:06:04,867 Speaker 5: still believed in me, regardless of how I did in 130 00:06:04,907 --> 00:06:05,347 Speaker 5: the long jump. 131 00:06:05,387 --> 00:06:08,467 Speaker 2: So yeah, after that long jump, you'd be harder on 132 00:06:08,507 --> 00:06:12,147 Speaker 2: yourself than anybody possibly could be. So when you went 133 00:06:12,227 --> 00:06:15,467 Speaker 2: into the tourn of meters, was it a case of 134 00:06:15,947 --> 00:06:19,107 Speaker 2: revenge for the long jump jumping through your mind? 135 00:06:19,827 --> 00:06:22,987 Speaker 5: I did say revenge, and I mean I wanted revenge 136 00:06:22,987 --> 00:06:26,107 Speaker 5: on the two hundred race. The last two races I ran, 137 00:06:26,227 --> 00:06:28,227 Speaker 5: I ran in Rio and I stepped on the line 138 00:06:28,227 --> 00:06:31,747 Speaker 5: and got disqualified. And then my last two hundred race 139 00:06:32,027 --> 00:06:35,707 Speaker 5: at a Champs was in London the year after, and 140 00:06:35,707 --> 00:06:37,347 Speaker 5: and and. 141 00:06:37,267 --> 00:06:38,067 Speaker 4: I broke my foot. 142 00:06:38,187 --> 00:06:39,987 Speaker 5: I mean I'd been having trouble with my foot, but 143 00:06:40,067 --> 00:06:41,427 Speaker 5: it really gave out mid race. 144 00:06:41,507 --> 00:06:43,347 Speaker 4: And so I knew I. 145 00:06:43,347 --> 00:06:45,267 Speaker 5: Loved doing the two hundred back then, and I knew 146 00:06:45,307 --> 00:06:47,107 Speaker 5: I wanted to eventually do it, but we did just 147 00:06:47,347 --> 00:06:49,747 Speaker 5: take it off the cards, like we decided, we decided 148 00:06:49,787 --> 00:06:51,507 Speaker 5: to we decided to. 149 00:06:52,667 --> 00:06:55,507 Speaker 4: Not run it ever again, Like that was it. We'd 150 00:06:55,547 --> 00:06:56,027 Speaker 4: signed it off. 151 00:06:56,067 --> 00:06:58,147 Speaker 5: And I think being able to be in a position 152 00:06:58,267 --> 00:07:00,507 Speaker 5: I trust some body enough to handle the training and 153 00:07:00,547 --> 00:07:02,347 Speaker 5: to handle being out there on the track and running 154 00:07:02,347 --> 00:07:06,387 Speaker 5: the bend, I think, yeah, I wanted some revenge and 155 00:07:06,467 --> 00:07:08,147 Speaker 5: that it had been mean to me, and I wanted 156 00:07:08,347 --> 00:07:09,307 Speaker 5: I wanted to get it back. 157 00:07:09,787 --> 00:07:13,067 Speaker 2: You've had a pretty successful games and a grimordy so far. 158 00:07:13,707 --> 00:07:16,667 Speaker 2: The gold obviously the cherry on the top at the 159 00:07:16,947 --> 00:07:20,147 Speaker 2: end of that, but looking back at the whole process 160 00:07:20,307 --> 00:07:22,947 Speaker 2: and the whole games, I expect you you carry that 161 00:07:23,187 --> 00:07:26,427 Speaker 2: quite lightly. You'd be absolutely stoked. 162 00:07:27,307 --> 00:07:30,547 Speaker 4: Yeah, for sure, I'm so. I'm so happy. 163 00:07:30,547 --> 00:07:34,587 Speaker 5: I mean, I would be incredibly happy regardless of the 164 00:07:34,627 --> 00:07:35,427 Speaker 5: outcome tonight. 165 00:07:35,467 --> 00:07:37,027 Speaker 4: Like I've put I've put forward. 166 00:07:37,147 --> 00:07:39,627 Speaker 5: I put myself out there more than I ever have before, 167 00:07:39,747 --> 00:07:43,427 Speaker 5: and that hundred was more than I could. 168 00:07:43,187 --> 00:07:43,787 Speaker 4: Have hoped for. 169 00:07:44,147 --> 00:07:46,587 Speaker 5: And then today to be able to back it, and 170 00:07:47,587 --> 00:07:50,707 Speaker 5: with two TVs and the two like two massive TVs, 171 00:07:51,027 --> 00:07:54,467 Speaker 5: it was just, Yeah, I'm really happy with how I 172 00:07:54,507 --> 00:07:57,747 Speaker 5: performed it and to be able to puck up from yesterday. 173 00:07:58,907 --> 00:08:01,227 Speaker 5: I don't think disappointed is the right word. And yesterday 174 00:08:01,227 --> 00:08:03,427 Speaker 5: I'll have to figure out what I how I feel 175 00:08:03,427 --> 00:08:08,907 Speaker 5: about that, probably on a bitch somewhere on holiday, but well, yeah, 176 00:08:09,067 --> 00:08:11,147 Speaker 5: just how I was able to get back in there 177 00:08:11,147 --> 00:08:12,467 Speaker 5: today and didn't let it discourage me. 178 00:08:12,507 --> 00:08:14,867 Speaker 4: I think, Yeah, I'm really proud. 179 00:08:14,787 --> 00:08:17,227 Speaker 2: That we'll let you go shortly, Anna, and go and 180 00:08:17,347 --> 00:08:20,987 Speaker 2: celebrate with your friends and your family, your Paralympic family 181 00:08:21,747 --> 00:08:25,707 Speaker 2: and on. That enormously important for yourself to pick up 182 00:08:25,747 --> 00:08:30,427 Speaker 2: the medals, but I'd expect just as important, if not more, 183 00:08:30,747 --> 00:08:32,147 Speaker 2: for the team themselves. 184 00:08:32,667 --> 00:08:33,427 Speaker 4: Yeah, I'm so. 185 00:08:33,987 --> 00:08:35,907 Speaker 5: I feel so lucky to be part of such an 186 00:08:35,907 --> 00:08:39,107 Speaker 5: awesome team. The vibe in the village is incredible. Everyone 187 00:08:39,227 --> 00:08:42,547 Speaker 5: is wanting to see Rondo so well, and it has been 188 00:08:42,627 --> 00:08:45,667 Speaker 5: so supportive of even me yesterday when I. 189 00:08:45,587 --> 00:08:46,427 Speaker 4: Didn't do so well. 190 00:08:46,507 --> 00:08:49,947 Speaker 5: And yeah, I can't wait to celebrate with them, especially 191 00:08:49,987 --> 00:08:52,947 Speaker 5: tomorrow at the closing. And being not a ship, I 192 00:08:53,027 --> 00:08:55,227 Speaker 5: just think that's the best thing about being successful is 193 00:08:55,627 --> 00:08:57,547 Speaker 5: or even getting to compete at this level, is getting 194 00:08:57,547 --> 00:08:59,867 Speaker 5: to share it with other people. And the games, the 195 00:08:59,867 --> 00:09:03,027 Speaker 5: Paralympic Games are the most incredible thing. 196 00:09:03,067 --> 00:09:07,387 Speaker 4: They changed my life. I was I did. Yes, I 197 00:09:07,427 --> 00:09:08,947 Speaker 4: don't know, there's something's visual. 198 00:09:09,227 --> 00:09:12,187 Speaker 5: I hope they change other people's lives too, because it's yeah, 199 00:09:12,227 --> 00:09:13,067 Speaker 5: it's changed mine. 200 00:09:13,107 --> 00:09:16,347 Speaker 2: Thanks for joining us, and we're celebrating for you back 201 00:09:16,387 --> 00:09:19,267 Speaker 2: here in ok Tiroa. You enjoy your time off knowing 202 00:09:19,547 --> 00:09:22,747 Speaker 2: that you've got no rocks under your beach style. Thank 203 00:09:22,787 --> 00:09:25,507 Speaker 2: you very much for pairing on the program and for 204 00:09:25,587 --> 00:09:27,147 Speaker 2: doing what you did in Paris. 205 00:09:27,827 --> 00:09:29,787 Speaker 4: Thank you so much. Thanks for having me. 206 00:09:30,107 --> 00:09:34,307 Speaker 2: Thanks for joining us. Such delight, such joy, and Grimaldi 207 00:09:34,347 --> 00:09:38,187 Speaker 2: there who are not only picked up the one hundred 208 00:09:38,227 --> 00:09:41,867 Speaker 2: meter bronze in the T forty seven this morning, it 209 00:09:41,947 --> 00:09:44,067 Speaker 2: was around about five o'clock picked up the T forty 210 00:09:44,107 --> 00:09:48,067 Speaker 2: seven two hundred gold and by quite the margin makes 211 00:09:48,147 --> 00:09:50,187 Speaker 2: up for the fourth and the long jump of course, 212 00:09:50,427 --> 00:09:54,667 Speaker 2: two time defending Paralympic champion in that it's a discipline, 213 00:09:54,827 --> 00:09:57,307 Speaker 2: but it's all okay. Now she's picked up the gold. 214 00:09:57,307 --> 00:09:59,667 Speaker 2: What a time she's had quick text on that as well. 215 00:10:00,107 --> 00:10:04,267 Speaker 2: So happy for Energy's win, but an amazing interview after 216 00:10:04,347 --> 00:10:08,427 Speaker 2: the long jump will be my enduring memory of these games. 217 00:10:08,467 --> 00:10:13,147 Speaker 2: She has a massive ticker, Andy, thanks very much for that. 218 00:10:13,347 --> 00:10:17,147 Speaker 1: Text for more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine. Listen 219 00:10:17,267 --> 00:10:20,507 Speaker 1: live to News Talk set B weekends from midday, or 220 00:10:20,587 --> 00:10:22,547 Speaker 1: follow the podcast on iHeartRadio