1 00:00:06,707 --> 00:00:10,587 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine 2 00:00:10,747 --> 00:00:11,787 Speaker 1: from News Talk ZEDB. 3 00:00:12,827 --> 00:00:16,507 Speaker 2: Can We sprinter Danielle Chison has been selected for the 4 00:00:16,547 --> 00:00:20,627 Speaker 2: upcoming Paralympic Games in Paris. Now this is not a surprise. 5 00:00:21,107 --> 00:00:23,907 Speaker 2: She is the reigning power World two hundred meter T 6 00:00:24,147 --> 00:00:28,387 Speaker 2: thirty six champion, setting a world record of twenty seven 7 00:00:28,467 --> 00:00:31,387 Speaker 2: point four to seven seconds to claim that gold medal 8 00:00:31,467 --> 00:00:34,947 Speaker 2: in Kobe in May. She also claimed one hundred meter 9 00:00:35,067 --> 00:00:39,707 Speaker 2: T thirty six silver in Kobe. Daniel Agison attended the 10 00:00:39,747 --> 00:00:42,907 Speaker 2: last Paralympics in Tokyo, where she won silver in the 11 00:00:42,947 --> 00:00:45,787 Speaker 2: women's two hundred meter T thirty six and bronze in 12 00:00:45,867 --> 00:00:49,627 Speaker 2: the women's one hundred meter T thirty six. Danielle Ahison 13 00:00:49,827 --> 00:00:53,467 Speaker 2: is with us. Congratulations on the confirmation of your place 14 00:00:53,467 --> 00:00:56,747 Speaker 2: in the Paralympic team for Paris. Danielle, how long would 15 00:00:56,787 --> 00:01:01,107 Speaker 2: you say this has been a goal of yours since Tokyo. 16 00:01:01,387 --> 00:01:05,547 Speaker 3: It's def I been a goal just to has been 17 00:01:05,587 --> 00:01:09,027 Speaker 3: in my sight and for the last three years. It's 18 00:01:09,067 --> 00:01:13,507 Speaker 3: what we've been targeting every years, what we push ourselves 19 00:01:13,547 --> 00:01:16,587 Speaker 3: to do. And yeah, so we're excited to get over there. 20 00:01:17,107 --> 00:01:21,907 Speaker 2: How strange an event was Tokyo. We were in COVID times. 21 00:01:21,947 --> 00:01:25,347 Speaker 2: Of course, it wasn't It wasn't normal. How do you 22 00:01:25,427 --> 00:01:26,107 Speaker 2: reflect on it? 23 00:01:27,587 --> 00:01:31,907 Speaker 3: Yeah, it definitely was a different experience, especially with the 24 00:01:31,907 --> 00:01:37,667 Speaker 3: COVID situation with no spectators, being quite isolated and having 25 00:01:37,707 --> 00:01:40,987 Speaker 3: to follow all the COVID rules in terms of sanitation, masks, 26 00:01:40,987 --> 00:01:44,427 Speaker 3: s wearing as well as I was quite young back 27 00:01:44,467 --> 00:01:46,627 Speaker 3: to the wh I went to Tokyo Paralympic Games. So 28 00:01:47,307 --> 00:01:52,027 Speaker 3: it's very different experience and I'm looking forward to seeing 29 00:01:52,027 --> 00:01:53,427 Speaker 3: what this Parallempic game brings. 30 00:01:53,667 --> 00:01:56,787 Speaker 2: I bet, I bet. Well. It's been a really, really 31 00:01:56,827 --> 00:01:59,307 Speaker 2: impressive recent few months for you. Can I take you 32 00:01:59,347 --> 00:02:02,507 Speaker 2: back to Kobe in May where you won gold at 33 00:02:02,547 --> 00:02:06,747 Speaker 2: the World Champs a world record time twenty seven force seven. 34 00:02:07,147 --> 00:02:09,787 Speaker 2: How do you remember that day? 35 00:02:10,107 --> 00:02:16,187 Speaker 3: Ah? It was. Yeah, it's still so mind blown the 36 00:02:16,267 --> 00:02:19,747 Speaker 3: results that I got because it had been such as 37 00:02:19,747 --> 00:02:23,107 Speaker 3: stressful few months leading up in terms of the classification. 38 00:02:23,707 --> 00:02:26,307 Speaker 3: I was up for the view of classification, which was 39 00:02:26,347 --> 00:02:28,907 Speaker 3: the purpose of me going to real chance, and so 40 00:02:29,747 --> 00:02:33,507 Speaker 3: I had that looming over me, and so to get 41 00:02:33,547 --> 00:02:37,307 Speaker 3: confirmed tee thirty six as a classification, I was just 42 00:02:37,347 --> 00:02:39,307 Speaker 3: really wanting to go out the end of two hundred 43 00:02:39,427 --> 00:02:42,627 Speaker 3: and have fun. I'd gone over and I achieved for 44 00:02:42,667 --> 00:02:44,947 Speaker 3: a new tree, which was the teeth thirty six, and 45 00:02:45,027 --> 00:02:49,467 Speaker 3: so yeah, it was just so mind blown. I was 46 00:02:49,547 --> 00:02:53,787 Speaker 3: just so focused on myself and crossed that line and 47 00:02:54,387 --> 00:02:58,067 Speaker 3: just bease. I was just in disbelief that I had 48 00:02:58,147 --> 00:03:03,107 Speaker 3: run that fast and got that up time. And yeah, 49 00:03:03,147 --> 00:03:04,387 Speaker 3: it was just incredible. 50 00:03:05,387 --> 00:03:06,867 Speaker 2: I just I want to come back to that race. 51 00:03:06,867 --> 00:03:09,507 Speaker 2: But can you talk to us about the classification process 52 00:03:09,787 --> 00:03:12,787 Speaker 2: and the stress that it caused you? Your T thirty six, 53 00:03:12,907 --> 00:03:16,307 Speaker 2: as I understand it, you could have been reclassified as 54 00:03:16,387 --> 00:03:18,667 Speaker 2: T thirty eight. Can you just tell us the ins 55 00:03:18,667 --> 00:03:19,387 Speaker 2: and outs of that. 56 00:03:20,347 --> 00:03:25,027 Speaker 3: Yes. Yeah, So as a per athlete, we go through 57 00:03:25,467 --> 00:03:29,747 Speaker 3: the classifications and we often put up for review of classification, 58 00:03:29,907 --> 00:03:33,747 Speaker 3: which is can be a timeline of like s pump 59 00:03:33,787 --> 00:03:37,587 Speaker 3: six months to four years kind of thing. Because I 60 00:03:37,627 --> 00:03:41,187 Speaker 3: have Silver foor Z, our disability changes so much that 61 00:03:41,907 --> 00:03:46,787 Speaker 3: I was put on six months of you eighteen months ago. 62 00:03:46,907 --> 00:03:50,747 Speaker 3: So then I had to get reclassified at World Championships 63 00:03:50,867 --> 00:03:54,587 Speaker 3: last year in Paris, and then they put me on 64 00:03:54,627 --> 00:03:57,147 Speaker 3: another six months review. So then I had to get 65 00:03:57,147 --> 00:04:01,667 Speaker 3: it done again at this World Championships and that was 66 00:04:01,787 --> 00:04:06,827 Speaker 3: just to be reclassified three times within an eighteen months, 67 00:04:07,387 --> 00:04:11,427 Speaker 3: It's just so unusual and it definitely put a lot 68 00:04:11,467 --> 00:04:14,547 Speaker 3: of stress because it was like, well, they're really unsure 69 00:04:14,547 --> 00:04:17,307 Speaker 3: if they're putting me on that much reviews. So there 70 00:04:17,387 --> 00:04:21,227 Speaker 3: was a lot of I guess, a little bit of 71 00:04:22,107 --> 00:04:24,027 Speaker 3: like am I going to be changed to TE thirty eight? 72 00:04:24,067 --> 00:04:26,467 Speaker 3: Because if I was changed to T thro the eight, 73 00:04:27,027 --> 00:04:29,747 Speaker 3: it's a whole different ball game in terms of events 74 00:04:29,747 --> 00:04:33,867 Speaker 3: and times and qualifications. So yeah, it was just it 75 00:04:33,947 --> 00:04:36,507 Speaker 3: was a lot fighting on World Championships this year. 76 00:04:37,147 --> 00:04:41,427 Speaker 2: Why do they have the reclassification process, Danielle, Surely if 77 00:04:41,427 --> 00:04:43,947 Speaker 2: you're T thirty six, you're always T thirty six, aren't you? 78 00:04:44,067 --> 00:04:52,227 Speaker 3: Or not not necessarily just because yeah it can. Honestly, 79 00:04:52,867 --> 00:04:55,627 Speaker 3: my disability can change from day to day as so 80 00:04:55,707 --> 00:04:58,507 Speaker 3: it just depends on the day how my self was 81 00:04:58,547 --> 00:05:01,827 Speaker 3: is going to behave, I guess, and so sometimes they 82 00:05:01,907 --> 00:05:05,867 Speaker 3: might see me present as very normal. Some days I 83 00:05:05,907 --> 00:05:10,267 Speaker 3: can present real seal for Z like, and so it 84 00:05:10,307 --> 00:05:12,507 Speaker 3: can just depend on what they see and what they 85 00:05:12,547 --> 00:05:15,187 Speaker 3: pick up that. Yeah, that's the end result. 86 00:05:15,427 --> 00:05:18,347 Speaker 2: Really, if they had reclassified you to T thirty eight, 87 00:05:18,387 --> 00:05:21,427 Speaker 2: what would have been the repercussions of that. 88 00:05:23,227 --> 00:05:27,347 Speaker 3: The first one being my event. I TV E eight 89 00:05:27,747 --> 00:05:31,987 Speaker 3: only have one hundred, four hundred and long jump in 90 00:05:32,067 --> 00:05:34,707 Speaker 3: terms of like that I would be interested in, So 91 00:05:34,747 --> 00:05:37,107 Speaker 3: they wouldn't have my favorite event, which is two hundred, 92 00:05:37,987 --> 00:05:42,187 Speaker 3: and I have not trained for four hundred. I would 93 00:05:42,307 --> 00:05:44,987 Speaker 3: never do four hundred as the worst of it ever, 94 00:05:46,467 --> 00:05:50,387 Speaker 3: and I haven't trained for long jump, and so yeah, 95 00:05:50,387 --> 00:05:53,627 Speaker 3: and the events will change. And then they also run 96 00:05:53,707 --> 00:05:56,107 Speaker 3: a lot faster than t THV six is, so I 97 00:05:56,107 --> 00:05:59,107 Speaker 3: would need to be running a lot faster to meet 98 00:05:59,147 --> 00:06:00,507 Speaker 3: the qualification times as well. 99 00:06:01,027 --> 00:06:04,587 Speaker 2: Well, I'm glad it's all worked out. Okay, back to 100 00:06:04,587 --> 00:06:06,947 Speaker 2: the two hundred twenty seven four sem you said that 101 00:06:06,987 --> 00:06:09,947 Speaker 2: you couldn't believe that time? How can how fast you 102 00:06:09,987 --> 00:06:13,587 Speaker 2: reckon you can now run? Have you reset your aspirations 103 00:06:13,627 --> 00:06:15,947 Speaker 2: and your goals in terms of how fast you can 104 00:06:16,027 --> 00:06:16,707 Speaker 2: run two hundred? 105 00:06:18,067 --> 00:06:21,867 Speaker 3: No, I definitely think I still have more in me 106 00:06:22,547 --> 00:06:26,027 Speaker 3: and I'm still really excited to see what I can 107 00:06:26,147 --> 00:06:30,187 Speaker 3: do at the Paralympicks. I definitely think there's no limit 108 00:06:31,587 --> 00:06:33,787 Speaker 3: to what I'm willing to put down like a figure 109 00:06:33,827 --> 00:06:38,227 Speaker 3: and literally just like whatever happen will happen. Yeah, I'm 110 00:06:38,227 --> 00:06:40,027 Speaker 3: just really excited to see the time that I actually 111 00:06:40,067 --> 00:06:40,827 Speaker 3: do produce. 112 00:06:41,267 --> 00:06:43,947 Speaker 2: Do you give equal focus to the one hundred meters? 113 00:06:44,467 --> 00:06:48,587 Speaker 3: Yes, yeah, I'm equally focused on both of them, and 114 00:06:48,747 --> 00:06:50,787 Speaker 3: I'm probably a little bit more actually on the one 115 00:06:50,867 --> 00:06:55,227 Speaker 3: hundred specifically because the two hundred I feel a bit 116 00:06:55,267 --> 00:06:57,627 Speaker 3: more confident that I know exactly what need to do. 117 00:06:58,107 --> 00:06:59,947 Speaker 3: I also have a bit more time and the two 118 00:07:00,027 --> 00:07:03,307 Speaker 3: hundred to fix up any mistakes that I might necessarily 119 00:07:03,347 --> 00:07:06,907 Speaker 3: make in the block starts or et cetera. One hundred 120 00:07:07,067 --> 00:07:11,187 Speaker 3: is literally you don't have that much time to do anything. 121 00:07:11,227 --> 00:07:15,307 Speaker 3: It's a lot of It's a short mace and you've 122 00:07:15,307 --> 00:07:17,107 Speaker 3: got to get everything perfect to man it. 123 00:07:17,627 --> 00:07:20,907 Speaker 2: So is the one hundred meter two hundred meter double Hear, 124 00:07:20,947 --> 00:07:22,987 Speaker 2: what we're after here, is that your your goal to 125 00:07:23,027 --> 00:07:23,707 Speaker 2: win them both? 126 00:07:25,747 --> 00:07:27,307 Speaker 3: Yes, I would really like to do that. 127 00:07:28,787 --> 00:07:30,827 Speaker 2: It's probably a silly question, isn't it. I mean the 128 00:07:30,827 --> 00:07:33,307 Speaker 2: two hundreds, you say, is one you've been so successful 129 00:07:33,307 --> 00:07:36,987 Speaker 2: and where of the whare of the improvements or what's 130 00:07:37,067 --> 00:07:41,787 Speaker 2: been behind the phenomenal, phenomenal improvements in your times in 131 00:07:41,827 --> 00:07:43,867 Speaker 2: the last twelve months, Because as I understand it, over 132 00:07:43,907 --> 00:07:46,707 Speaker 2: the New Zealand summer you were just setting PB after PB. 133 00:07:48,027 --> 00:07:53,187 Speaker 3: Yeah, it's definitely a lot of factors. I think it 134 00:07:53,307 --> 00:07:57,347 Speaker 3: was last year I specifically had a lot of lot 135 00:07:57,387 --> 00:08:00,347 Speaker 3: to effect on and I found that I was hitting 136 00:08:00,387 --> 00:08:03,307 Speaker 3: a plateau in terms of my performances. I wasn't really 137 00:08:03,347 --> 00:08:09,147 Speaker 3: happy with just having the same performance. I really wanted 138 00:08:09,187 --> 00:08:11,947 Speaker 3: to make another improvement, and so we reached out to 139 00:08:11,987 --> 00:08:15,707 Speaker 3: a few different people to get their eyes on point 140 00:08:15,707 --> 00:08:18,347 Speaker 3: where they think that I can prove. I also think 141 00:08:19,627 --> 00:08:23,147 Speaker 3: certain other than technical, I also think it's been a 142 00:08:23,187 --> 00:08:28,307 Speaker 3: massive mental game as well. I really pushed myself this 143 00:08:28,467 --> 00:08:34,387 Speaker 3: year to put myself in uncomfortable situations or outside of 144 00:08:34,427 --> 00:08:38,667 Speaker 3: my comfort zone too, and especially in the racing situation, 145 00:08:38,707 --> 00:08:42,067 Speaker 3: because that's obviously what I need to do is practice racing. 146 00:08:42,507 --> 00:08:45,747 Speaker 3: And so during the New Zealand season, I would put 147 00:08:45,747 --> 00:08:48,787 Speaker 3: myself in my groups of girls that are faster than 148 00:08:48,787 --> 00:08:52,147 Speaker 3: me to really practice the environment of racing. 149 00:08:53,307 --> 00:08:56,067 Speaker 2: Outstanding, we should do the four hundred that'll make you uncomfortable? 150 00:08:56,707 --> 00:08:59,387 Speaker 3: Oh no way that I would literally die. 151 00:09:01,267 --> 00:09:04,347 Speaker 2: Oh wow. Well, so what does what is the next 152 00:09:04,347 --> 00:09:07,947 Speaker 2: couple of months as you put your final touches on 153 00:09:07,987 --> 00:09:10,227 Speaker 2: your preparation for the Paralympics look like, what have you 154 00:09:10,267 --> 00:09:10,907 Speaker 2: got coming up? 155 00:09:12,347 --> 00:09:17,187 Speaker 3: I've got about months still here in Hamilton home where 156 00:09:17,267 --> 00:09:19,267 Speaker 3: I'm just going to be working with my coaches and 157 00:09:19,347 --> 00:09:24,627 Speaker 3: we're going to be making some fine tuning some technical things, 158 00:09:24,747 --> 00:09:27,227 Speaker 3: and then I'm going to head over to Brussels and 159 00:09:27,307 --> 00:09:30,187 Speaker 3: Belgium and I'll do a few competitions over the year 160 00:09:30,547 --> 00:09:33,507 Speaker 3: as well as climatized for the heat because it is 161 00:09:33,667 --> 00:09:37,627 Speaker 3: really cold here and Hamilton it's ridiculous, so I'm really 162 00:09:37,627 --> 00:09:40,387 Speaker 3: looking forward to get into the heat. And then yeah, 163 00:09:40,387 --> 00:09:43,987 Speaker 3: I head into pre camp with Ethnicised and then into 164 00:09:43,987 --> 00:09:44,627 Speaker 3: the village. 165 00:09:44,867 --> 00:09:48,027 Speaker 2: You know, you able to have friends, family with you 166 00:09:48,067 --> 00:09:50,707 Speaker 2: this time, because I know in Tokyo rather you know 167 00:09:50,747 --> 00:09:52,747 Speaker 2: spectators there, we're no spectators. So are you going to 168 00:09:52,787 --> 00:09:53,867 Speaker 2: have a support crew this time? 169 00:09:54,547 --> 00:09:58,107 Speaker 3: Yes, I've got a big support team of nine people 170 00:09:58,187 --> 00:10:01,467 Speaker 3: coming to the Paralympic Games. So it's really exciting to 171 00:10:01,547 --> 00:10:04,387 Speaker 3: have actually my family supporting me in the crowds and 172 00:10:04,427 --> 00:10:04,867 Speaker 3: watching me. 173 00:10:05,147 --> 00:10:08,787 Speaker 2: Fantastic, Danielle, terrific stuff. What a year or so you've had, 174 00:10:08,827 --> 00:10:10,747 Speaker 2: and I know there's more to come. We can't wait 175 00:10:10,747 --> 00:10:12,107 Speaker 2: to see how you go in the one hundred and 176 00:10:12,147 --> 00:10:15,107 Speaker 2: the two hundred meters in the upcoming Paralympic Games in Paris. 177 00:10:15,147 --> 00:10:16,707 Speaker 2: Thanks so much for taking the time for a chat. 178 00:10:17,307 --> 00:10:18,227 Speaker 3: Thank you. 179 00:10:18,427 --> 00:10:23,547 Speaker 2: Danielle Ahison there, Paralympic sprinter. Yeah, what a delight to 180 00:10:23,627 --> 00:10:26,187 Speaker 2: chat to her. Twenty seven four to seven the world 181 00:10:26,227 --> 00:10:28,907 Speaker 2: record she set to claim that gold medal and Kobe 182 00:10:28,947 --> 00:10:33,027 Speaker 2: in May. Yeah, going from strength to strength and running 183 00:10:33,027 --> 00:10:35,547 Speaker 2: both the one hundred and two hundred meters at the 184 00:10:35,547 --> 00:10:39,987 Speaker 2: Paralympics in Paris. Look out for that name Danielle. 185 00:10:39,547 --> 00:10:43,707 Speaker 1: Chison for more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine. Listen 186 00:10:43,827 --> 00:10:47,067 Speaker 1: live to News Talk zed B weekends from midday, or 187 00:10:47,107 --> 00:10:49,067 Speaker 1: follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.