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 z'b. 3 00:00:12,787 --> 00:00:17,867 Speaker 2: Three time Paralympian, three time Paralympic champion, gold medalist for 4 00:00:17,907 --> 00:00:20,947 Speaker 2: New Zealand in the T forty seven two hundred meters 5 00:00:20,987 --> 00:00:23,267 Speaker 2: in Paris this year, to go with bronze and the 6 00:00:23,267 --> 00:00:26,307 Speaker 2: T forty seven one hundred meters and the back to 7 00:00:26,387 --> 00:00:29,267 Speaker 2: back gold medals she won in the T forty seven 8 00:00:29,347 --> 00:00:32,667 Speaker 2: long jump in Rio and Tokyo. It is, of course, 9 00:00:32,747 --> 00:00:35,507 Speaker 2: Anna Grimaldi and I wonderful to get the chance to 10 00:00:35,547 --> 00:00:38,347 Speaker 2: catch up with you and reflect on what happened in Paris. 11 00:00:38,667 --> 00:00:42,027 Speaker 2: If someone had suggested to you before the Paralympic Games 12 00:00:42,387 --> 00:00:45,347 Speaker 2: that you would win gold in the two hundred meters 13 00:00:45,707 --> 00:00:48,267 Speaker 2: in an Oceania record of twenty four point seven two 14 00:00:48,347 --> 00:00:52,787 Speaker 2: seconds while chopping over a second off your personal best, 15 00:00:53,267 --> 00:00:55,667 Speaker 2: what would your reaction have been to that? 16 00:00:56,907 --> 00:00:59,267 Speaker 3: Yeah, I think I'm sorry about this a line. If 17 00:00:59,307 --> 00:01:01,667 Speaker 3: someone had Segre coming home from Paris with the gold, 18 00:01:02,067 --> 00:01:04,347 Speaker 3: I would have seed. I would have thought it was 19 00:01:04,427 --> 00:01:07,387 Speaker 3: in the long jumps, like it was not. It wasn't 20 00:01:07,427 --> 00:01:09,307 Speaker 3: really on my radar to be winning the two hundred. 21 00:01:09,347 --> 00:01:13,147 Speaker 3: I thought maybe we had a good shot at doing 22 00:01:13,187 --> 00:01:18,387 Speaker 3: okay and yees being a being a crazy like a 23 00:01:18,587 --> 00:01:20,827 Speaker 3: whipplash actually because at this is a long jump didn't 24 00:01:20,827 --> 00:01:24,107 Speaker 3: go so well, and then coming away with sort of 25 00:01:24,147 --> 00:01:26,867 Speaker 3: the goal, but like in a completely definite mean it was. 26 00:01:28,107 --> 00:01:31,547 Speaker 3: It was incredible. I think I'm just blown away by 27 00:01:31,547 --> 00:01:35,747 Speaker 3: the time and that I was able to step up, 28 00:01:35,867 --> 00:01:38,227 Speaker 3: like do two races in the same day and run 29 00:01:38,307 --> 00:01:41,827 Speaker 3: quick at both races, and yeah, I don't know, I'm 30 00:01:41,867 --> 00:01:43,387 Speaker 3: just really proud. That's funny. 31 00:01:43,907 --> 00:01:46,427 Speaker 2: You should be proud. It was an amazing achievement. Didn't 32 00:01:46,427 --> 00:01:49,307 Speaker 2: you drop the two hundred from your program for a 33 00:01:49,307 --> 00:01:51,747 Speaker 2: while after you got a fracture in your foot or 34 00:01:51,787 --> 00:01:53,107 Speaker 2: something back in twenty seventeen. 35 00:01:53,747 --> 00:01:55,987 Speaker 3: Yeah, in twenty I was right after where I was 36 00:01:56,027 --> 00:01:59,467 Speaker 3: having a bit of trouble. It was my first time. 37 00:01:59,707 --> 00:02:01,587 Speaker 3: We sort of pushed on through it. We had World 38 00:02:01,667 --> 00:02:04,507 Speaker 3: Champs and London, and I did the heats of the 39 00:02:05,307 --> 00:02:07,267 Speaker 3: of the two hundred meters. It up first and I 40 00:02:07,387 --> 00:02:10,907 Speaker 3: ran and I hobbled off the trap. I could need 41 00:02:10,947 --> 00:02:14,427 Speaker 3: one walk and we had to withdraw from the three 42 00:02:14,467 --> 00:02:16,827 Speaker 3: hundred final in the one hundred and try and sell 43 00:02:16,867 --> 00:02:19,547 Speaker 3: with it for the long jump, And when I got home, 44 00:02:19,627 --> 00:02:22,547 Speaker 3: we sort of decided, like a lot something's got to 45 00:02:22,547 --> 00:02:25,547 Speaker 3: given this program. There's too many things, beings putting a 46 00:02:25,547 --> 00:02:28,227 Speaker 3: lot of pressure on my foot, which was flimsy, and 47 00:02:28,347 --> 00:02:30,987 Speaker 3: found out I was actually when I got home, and 48 00:02:31,227 --> 00:02:34,027 Speaker 3: so yeah, I just put it on, put it out 49 00:02:34,027 --> 00:02:35,907 Speaker 3: of my mind. Actually I really liked running the two 50 00:02:35,987 --> 00:02:40,747 Speaker 3: but just I had to. I had to, you know, 51 00:02:40,747 --> 00:02:42,827 Speaker 3: set to find something to keep the program going and 52 00:02:42,867 --> 00:02:45,667 Speaker 3: to get healthy again, and so I just actually never 53 00:02:45,667 --> 00:02:48,587 Speaker 3: thought about either run out again. And then we thought. 54 00:02:48,627 --> 00:02:52,347 Speaker 3: I saw the final from the stand that World Chance 55 00:02:52,467 --> 00:02:55,747 Speaker 3: last year, and this is my character and I was like, oh, 56 00:02:56,387 --> 00:02:58,947 Speaker 3: this race has just been ran. I just watched it. 57 00:02:59,067 --> 00:03:01,867 Speaker 3: I think we could do that. We need to have 58 00:03:01,907 --> 00:03:04,747 Speaker 3: a discussion about it. And he's like, oh, he already 59 00:03:04,747 --> 00:03:06,547 Speaker 3: talked to a couple of people about maybe in the 60 00:03:06,547 --> 00:03:09,147 Speaker 3: two hundred the game, so we were all on the 61 00:03:09,147 --> 00:03:13,307 Speaker 3: same page, and I think, Yeah, it just felt like 62 00:03:13,387 --> 00:03:17,267 Speaker 3: this big, full circle moment, like I finally trusted my 63 00:03:17,347 --> 00:03:19,307 Speaker 3: body again and what it could do, and then it 64 00:03:19,387 --> 00:03:25,267 Speaker 3: was strong, and yeah, I think I entered the two hundred. 65 00:03:25,427 --> 00:03:27,907 Speaker 3: To me, I think in Paris, you know, it was 66 00:03:28,027 --> 00:03:32,467 Speaker 3: just a personal project to see maybe a direction we 67 00:03:32,547 --> 00:03:34,947 Speaker 3: might want to go after the Games, and yeah, to 68 00:03:34,987 --> 00:03:36,307 Speaker 3: have it work out so well, it's so. 69 00:03:37,187 --> 00:03:40,827 Speaker 2: Yeah, incredible, amazing. So in the long jump you were fourth, 70 00:03:40,987 --> 00:03:43,707 Speaker 2: just off the podium, the event you won golden in 71 00:03:43,747 --> 00:03:46,787 Speaker 2: the last two Games. How do you reflect on the 72 00:03:46,827 --> 00:03:48,707 Speaker 2: long jump in Paris? 73 00:03:49,267 --> 00:03:52,507 Speaker 3: Yeah, Look, it's hard, and I think I'm still in 74 00:03:52,507 --> 00:03:55,387 Speaker 3: the process of sort of processing it all, actually, and 75 00:03:55,427 --> 00:04:01,227 Speaker 3: I think for so long, like I think if I 76 00:04:01,227 --> 00:04:04,587 Speaker 3: had come forth in Tokyo, I think I would have 77 00:04:05,227 --> 00:04:07,587 Speaker 3: that would give a state of me. And I think 78 00:04:08,227 --> 00:04:10,867 Speaker 3: it's a big testament to the work we've done over 79 00:04:10,907 --> 00:04:14,067 Speaker 3: the last three years to now be able to come 80 00:04:14,107 --> 00:04:17,627 Speaker 3: away from Paris and go, you know what, Like I'm 81 00:04:17,987 --> 00:04:20,587 Speaker 3: I'm still a two time parallelm at champion, and the 82 00:04:20,627 --> 00:04:24,667 Speaker 3: long jump, I'm still really great at long jump. I 83 00:04:24,787 --> 00:04:26,507 Speaker 3: just had a bad day out there. I just couldn't 84 00:04:26,507 --> 00:04:29,627 Speaker 3: get it together. And these days happened, and unfortunately mine 85 00:04:29,787 --> 00:04:31,467 Speaker 3: was the one day and the four years you don't 86 00:04:31,467 --> 00:04:36,427 Speaker 3: want it to go wrong, and yeah, I'm obviously still 87 00:04:36,467 --> 00:04:38,947 Speaker 3: a bit guffed, Like I wanted to put my best 88 00:04:38,947 --> 00:04:42,627 Speaker 3: foot forward there and I just couldn't do it. But 89 00:04:44,907 --> 00:04:48,427 Speaker 3: I think it's just yeah, it's been nice knowing that 90 00:04:48,507 --> 00:04:51,947 Speaker 3: the work we've done around identity and sort of finding 91 00:04:52,027 --> 00:04:57,907 Speaker 3: Anna away from the Golds has obviously played a big 92 00:04:57,947 --> 00:05:00,867 Speaker 3: part of being able to recover from the four from 93 00:05:00,907 --> 00:05:06,867 Speaker 3: the long jump and coming forth, and yeah, being really 94 00:05:06,907 --> 00:05:14,067 Speaker 3: proud that I still feel life. I'm a champion, regardless 95 00:05:14,067 --> 00:05:16,147 Speaker 3: of how this one wins. I think for so long 96 00:05:16,187 --> 00:05:18,427 Speaker 3: I was worried if I didn't keep doing it, you know, 97 00:05:18,507 --> 00:05:20,427 Speaker 3: for some reason, it just makes the other ones who 98 00:05:20,627 --> 00:05:22,747 Speaker 3: valid But that's not true at all, And I think 99 00:05:22,747 --> 00:05:26,067 Speaker 3: it's nice to have now gone through that and really. 100 00:05:26,347 --> 00:05:31,067 Speaker 2: Felt that that's awesome insight, amazing insight. Did it feel 101 00:05:31,107 --> 00:05:34,227 Speaker 2: you in any way for the two hundred though, you know, 102 00:05:34,307 --> 00:05:35,947 Speaker 2: not getting on the podium in the long job. 103 00:05:36,827 --> 00:05:41,027 Speaker 3: I think approached this campaign like every event was totally separate, 104 00:05:41,387 --> 00:05:43,587 Speaker 3: because to me, they are all quite separate. Like one 105 00:05:43,627 --> 00:05:50,987 Speaker 3: hundred is something I'm not still not particularly confident about, 106 00:05:51,027 --> 00:05:53,027 Speaker 3: but I wanted to And we've done a lot of 107 00:05:53,067 --> 00:05:55,667 Speaker 3: work on my start and I and speed over the 108 00:05:55,747 --> 00:05:59,467 Speaker 3: last year and a birth, and the long jumps obviously 109 00:05:59,667 --> 00:06:02,667 Speaker 3: the one I usually feel the most comfortable and confident, 110 00:06:02,747 --> 00:06:04,467 Speaker 3: and then I just didn't less time. But then that 111 00:06:04,587 --> 00:06:07,227 Speaker 3: two hundred was really about it sploring, well what can 112 00:06:07,307 --> 00:06:10,067 Speaker 3: I do, what can my body do? And how fast 113 00:06:10,067 --> 00:06:14,227 Speaker 3: can we run? So I think that just yeah, it 114 00:06:14,307 --> 00:06:18,427 Speaker 3: was it did feel me and I think I actually 115 00:06:18,987 --> 00:06:21,867 Speaker 3: speaking the time on social media the evening after the 116 00:06:21,907 --> 00:06:26,827 Speaker 3: long jump, the morning, the evening before the before the 117 00:06:26,907 --> 00:06:29,787 Speaker 3: two hundred, and just saw like the amount of people 118 00:06:30,267 --> 00:06:32,747 Speaker 3: who really cheered. They went out of the way to 119 00:06:32,747 --> 00:06:35,067 Speaker 3: write a really time comment of seen the message, and 120 00:06:35,107 --> 00:06:37,187 Speaker 3: I wasn't actually expecting that. I sort of thought, oh, 121 00:06:37,227 --> 00:06:39,507 Speaker 3: this was a blow away so well of like paying 122 00:06:39,547 --> 00:06:41,787 Speaker 3: the addiction, and it was really nice to know that 123 00:06:42,067 --> 00:06:46,347 Speaker 3: people cared what I was doing and regardless of how 124 00:06:46,387 --> 00:06:50,307 Speaker 3: well I did. And I think that really feeled me 125 00:06:50,347 --> 00:06:53,947 Speaker 3: as well, knowing that people wanted to support me and 126 00:06:54,387 --> 00:06:56,867 Speaker 3: may not just my achievements as well. I think that 127 00:06:56,987 --> 00:06:59,067 Speaker 3: was a really big thing for me. 128 00:07:00,027 --> 00:07:02,707 Speaker 2: Well, you already achieved a place on the podium in 129 00:07:02,747 --> 00:07:08,427 Speaker 2: the t a bronze and New Oceania record. How pleased 130 00:07:08,427 --> 00:07:09,427 Speaker 2: were you with the one hundred? 131 00:07:09,987 --> 00:07:14,907 Speaker 3: Yeah, I was very happy. I think before the games, 132 00:07:14,907 --> 00:07:18,867 Speaker 3: I think like these are ways those doubts that creep in, 133 00:07:19,067 --> 00:07:20,787 Speaker 3: going like oh god, I'm not going to be shaped 134 00:07:20,827 --> 00:07:22,747 Speaker 3: I've ever been, you know, and I want to be. 135 00:07:23,347 --> 00:07:26,787 Speaker 3: And then for me, they're not necessarily based on anything, 136 00:07:26,947 --> 00:07:30,027 Speaker 3: like they just occur, those thoughts and they're not backed 137 00:07:30,067 --> 00:07:34,067 Speaker 3: up by actual facts or the evidence wasn't actually showing that. 138 00:07:34,107 --> 00:07:36,427 Speaker 3: But for me, I didn't actually realize. I think I 139 00:07:36,507 --> 00:07:39,027 Speaker 3: was still a bit worried about how I was going 140 00:07:39,067 --> 00:07:40,427 Speaker 3: to be able to race and if I was going 141 00:07:40,507 --> 00:07:42,987 Speaker 3: to be able to be in the top shape I 142 00:07:43,027 --> 00:07:46,627 Speaker 3: could be, and we just were a bit unaware of 143 00:07:46,747 --> 00:07:50,187 Speaker 3: how fast I probably could run and that I'm just 144 00:07:50,227 --> 00:07:52,147 Speaker 3: really happy that it happened on the day and then 145 00:07:52,147 --> 00:07:54,067 Speaker 3: I was able to back it up as well and 146 00:07:54,187 --> 00:07:57,947 Speaker 3: run quicker in the final later in the day. Yeah, 147 00:07:57,947 --> 00:08:03,747 Speaker 3: I was overjoyed, I think. And it does actually take 148 00:08:03,747 --> 00:08:06,547 Speaker 3: a bit of pressure off the long jump by think 149 00:08:06,587 --> 00:08:08,027 Speaker 3: as well, like it does lint all right on the 150 00:08:08,067 --> 00:08:10,947 Speaker 3: one event, and I did appreciate that as well at 151 00:08:10,947 --> 00:08:11,267 Speaker 3: the time. 152 00:08:12,427 --> 00:08:14,867 Speaker 2: So are you now a sprinter who also does long 153 00:08:14,947 --> 00:08:16,587 Speaker 2: jump or are you still a long jumper who does 154 00:08:16,627 --> 00:08:17,307 Speaker 2: a bit of sprinting. 155 00:08:17,987 --> 00:08:20,627 Speaker 3: Yeah, it's been part of the process of sort of 156 00:08:21,307 --> 00:08:24,267 Speaker 3: processing at all, I think trying to figure that out 157 00:08:24,307 --> 00:08:28,947 Speaker 3: through out. It's I think just The best part about 158 00:08:29,027 --> 00:08:34,067 Speaker 3: this journey to running the two hundred basically is actually 159 00:08:34,067 --> 00:08:36,227 Speaker 3: just falling in love with running again. It's not something 160 00:08:36,227 --> 00:08:40,067 Speaker 3: that I you've really loved or felt that good at. 161 00:08:40,147 --> 00:08:43,267 Speaker 3: And I think now I've got that confidence to be like, 162 00:08:43,347 --> 00:08:45,707 Speaker 3: yeah I am a splinter, and yeah I am good 163 00:08:45,707 --> 00:08:49,707 Speaker 3: at it, and I think that's that's nice. It's what 164 00:08:49,947 --> 00:08:52,507 Speaker 3: I don't know which which movent comes first in the 165 00:08:52,547 --> 00:08:57,587 Speaker 3: introductions anymore. I'm not sure we're still workshoping, I think. 166 00:08:57,947 --> 00:08:59,947 Speaker 2: So, have you committed to another Olympic cycle? 167 00:09:00,867 --> 00:09:04,347 Speaker 3: Yeah, yeah, I am planning on going to LA twenty eight. 168 00:09:04,867 --> 00:09:09,707 Speaker 3: So yeah, I'm really excited, I think. I So, I 169 00:09:09,867 --> 00:09:12,827 Speaker 3: definitely thought Paris would be my last games if I 170 00:09:12,867 --> 00:09:15,707 Speaker 3: made it that far, because I really wasn't enjoying it. 171 00:09:15,827 --> 00:09:19,947 Speaker 3: I was consumed with nerves and I just wasn't enjoying 172 00:09:19,947 --> 00:09:22,187 Speaker 3: showing up to training every day. And that's really a 173 00:09:22,187 --> 00:09:27,587 Speaker 3: great place to lead a campaign from. And yeah, it's 174 00:09:27,627 --> 00:09:32,627 Speaker 3: been incredibly it's been incredible to like sit over the 175 00:09:32,707 --> 00:09:35,947 Speaker 3: last over, you know, the games, and go, I can't 176 00:09:35,987 --> 00:09:38,307 Speaker 3: wait to play the next four years. Like I'm not 177 00:09:38,347 --> 00:09:40,907 Speaker 3: done yet. I'm excited. It feels like a new chapter. 178 00:09:40,987 --> 00:09:44,427 Speaker 3: In my career, which is it's been tame to say that, 179 00:09:44,467 --> 00:09:45,987 Speaker 3: you know, I've been going up a tinion now and 180 00:09:46,107 --> 00:09:48,147 Speaker 3: done three games, but it does feel like a new 181 00:09:48,227 --> 00:09:53,627 Speaker 3: chapter and that's always it's always exciting you even know 182 00:09:53,707 --> 00:09:54,867 Speaker 3: like where it will take you, you know. 183 00:09:55,187 --> 00:09:58,307 Speaker 2: Indeed, just my final question, you were also selected as 184 00:09:58,307 --> 00:10:01,067 Speaker 2: one of New Zealand's flag bearers for the opening ceremony 185 00:10:01,107 --> 00:10:03,307 Speaker 2: with Cameron Lesley in Paris. How special moment was that 186 00:10:03,427 --> 00:10:03,707 Speaker 2: for you? 187 00:10:04,347 --> 00:10:06,707 Speaker 3: That was incredible, That made my whole games and pain 188 00:10:07,147 --> 00:10:11,627 Speaker 3: before it had even begun. Yeah, it was incredibly humbly 189 00:10:11,747 --> 00:10:13,827 Speaker 3: only really emotional to be asked, I think to be 190 00:10:13,867 --> 00:10:17,867 Speaker 3: seen in a position where it sort of takes into 191 00:10:17,867 --> 00:10:21,187 Speaker 3: account your your achievements, but also you as a person, 192 00:10:21,227 --> 00:10:24,347 Speaker 3: and I are just incredibly humbled to be given the 193 00:10:24,547 --> 00:10:28,227 Speaker 3: opportunity to represent the team and lead them out. And 194 00:10:28,427 --> 00:10:30,507 Speaker 3: me and Can both spoke about how like carrying the 195 00:10:30,547 --> 00:10:37,267 Speaker 3: flag is not necessarily the most you know, the thing 196 00:10:37,347 --> 00:10:39,747 Speaker 3: that you think of that will enhance your performance, because 197 00:10:39,747 --> 00:10:41,867 Speaker 3: obviously it's a late night, you're on your feet a lot, 198 00:10:41,907 --> 00:10:44,187 Speaker 3: and you can quite a bit in the lead up 199 00:10:44,187 --> 00:10:46,747 Speaker 3: to your campaign. But for both of us it was 200 00:10:46,787 --> 00:10:48,907 Speaker 3: about a bit more than just that. I think it 201 00:10:48,987 --> 00:10:52,187 Speaker 3: was just sort of a nod to us as athletes 202 00:10:52,267 --> 00:10:54,267 Speaker 3: and that we want to enjoy what we're doing, and 203 00:10:54,307 --> 00:10:58,067 Speaker 3: that we chose to do that because us as people 204 00:10:58,147 --> 00:11:00,227 Speaker 3: wanted to. And I think it's going to be one 205 00:11:00,267 --> 00:11:03,707 Speaker 3: of the highlights of my career. Yeah for sure. 206 00:11:04,347 --> 00:11:06,627 Speaker 2: Well, you gave us some wonderful moments in power says 207 00:11:06,667 --> 00:11:09,627 Speaker 2: you did in Tokyo and in Rio, And thanks so 208 00:11:09,707 --> 00:11:12,227 Speaker 2: much for talking to us and reminiscing a little bit. 209 00:11:12,227 --> 00:11:14,067 Speaker 2: I hope you have a nice summer break and we'll 210 00:11:14,067 --> 00:11:15,947 Speaker 2: look forward to to seeing what the next four years 211 00:11:15,947 --> 00:11:16,387 Speaker 2: hold for you. 212 00:11:16,987 --> 00:11:17,147 Speaker 1: Yes. 213 00:11:17,227 --> 00:11:20,027 Speaker 3: Sound I'm excited and real a true so yes, thank you, Thanks, 214 00:11:20,067 --> 00:11:20,387 Speaker 3: Henery 215 00:11:20,467 --> 00:11:23,187 Speaker 1: No, thanks for joining us Enna For more from Weekend 216 00:11:23,267 --> 00:11:26,347 Speaker 1: Sport with Jason Fine, Listen live to News Talk st 217 00:11:26,427 --> 00:11:30,387 Speaker 1: B weekends from midday, or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.