1 00:00:06,707 --> 00:00:10,427 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Fine 2 00:00:10,747 --> 00:00:14,947 Speaker 1: from News Talk zed B, New Zealand. 3 00:00:14,587 --> 00:00:19,347 Speaker 2: And the home Straight Medal Land Jewaves. 4 00:00:18,907 --> 00:00:19,707 Speaker 3: Have one at all. 5 00:00:23,627 --> 00:00:26,147 Speaker 1: Weekend Sport Road to Paris. 6 00:00:25,907 --> 00:00:30,507 Speaker 4: Twenty twenty four. Yes. With the Olympics now just four 7 00:00:30,627 --> 00:00:33,507 Speaker 4: days away, it's time for the final stop on our 8 00:00:33,587 --> 00:00:36,347 Speaker 4: Road to Paris feature We Land in London twenty twelve, 9 00:00:36,707 --> 00:00:40,107 Speaker 4: where Sarah Walker became New Zealand's first and still only 10 00:00:40,147 --> 00:00:44,627 Speaker 4: Olympic BMX medalist, winning silver. She was second fastest in 11 00:00:44,707 --> 00:00:48,747 Speaker 4: her qualifying ride, but only fourth fastest of the four 12 00:00:48,907 --> 00:00:51,547 Speaker 4: in her semi final that went through to the final, 13 00:00:51,627 --> 00:00:54,147 Speaker 4: but in that final she was outstanding. 14 00:00:55,227 --> 00:00:57,987 Speaker 2: Jake drops We looked for walk around at date six 15 00:00:58,027 --> 00:01:00,787 Speaker 2: and she's made a cracking start through Sir Walker, over 16 00:01:00,827 --> 00:01:03,507 Speaker 2: the top pash On again, Sarah Walker's up the second. 17 00:01:03,507 --> 00:01:06,307 Speaker 2: At the moment Sarah Walker goes high on the bird whistles, 18 00:01:06,747 --> 00:01:08,747 Speaker 2: she's a tickets part. At the moment she's behind the 19 00:01:08,787 --> 00:01:11,587 Speaker 2: Columbia pasha On, Sarah Walker is in second spot. Here 20 00:01:11,587 --> 00:01:14,667 Speaker 2: comes the French woman Potier Sarah Walker maintaining seconds. Pot 21 00:01:14,707 --> 00:01:17,347 Speaker 2: at the movement Bajan racing away am On the inside 22 00:01:17,347 --> 00:01:19,787 Speaker 2: goes to the Dutch woman. Sarah Walker fighting back. She's 23 00:01:19,787 --> 00:01:21,827 Speaker 2: back up in the seconds butt at the moment, Sarah Walker. 24 00:01:21,947 --> 00:01:24,867 Speaker 2: She's runing behind the Columbion. Sarah Walker riding there behind 25 00:01:24,987 --> 00:01:27,707 Speaker 2: the final turn, Sarah Walker around the berth. It's out 26 00:01:27,707 --> 00:01:29,987 Speaker 2: to be a strait sprint. Sarah Walker looking to trike 27 00:01:30,027 --> 00:01:32,947 Speaker 2: it up there inside, come to it, Sarah Walker. 28 00:01:32,987 --> 00:01:36,467 Speaker 4: Silver, I want to call from nightel Yolden and Sarah Walker, 29 00:01:36,507 --> 00:01:38,987 Speaker 4: clocking a time of thirty eight point one one three seconds, 30 00:01:38,987 --> 00:01:42,427 Speaker 4: claiming silver. She also competed in Beijing in two thousand 31 00:01:42,547 --> 00:01:46,307 Speaker 4: and eight, when BMX made its Olympic debut. She placed fourth. 32 00:01:46,667 --> 00:01:49,987 Speaker 4: She is a twelve time medalist of the BMX World Championships, 33 00:01:50,227 --> 00:01:52,507 Speaker 4: and for the past eight years she's been a member 34 00:01:52,547 --> 00:01:57,267 Speaker 4: of the IOC Athletes Commission, a role she'll relinquish after 35 00:01:57,347 --> 00:02:00,747 Speaker 4: Paris twenty twenty four. Sarah Walker is with us, Sarah 36 00:02:00,987 --> 00:02:03,467 Speaker 4: Silver at London twenty twelve. That we just heard there 37 00:02:03,987 --> 00:02:06,227 Speaker 4: might not even have happened. Tell us about the crash 38 00:02:06,427 --> 00:02:09,507 Speaker 4: that you had in April of twenty twelve in Norway 39 00:02:10,027 --> 00:02:12,507 Speaker 4: which resulted in a dislocated shoulder. 40 00:02:13,347 --> 00:02:17,507 Speaker 3: Yeah, exactly. Yeah, we're in the final World Cup races 41 00:02:17,627 --> 00:02:22,467 Speaker 3: leading into the Games, and I had a pretty good race, 42 00:02:22,507 --> 00:02:26,307 Speaker 3: but I was coming out down the second straight next 43 00:02:26,307 --> 00:02:28,547 Speaker 3: to one of the American riders and they made a 44 00:02:28,627 --> 00:02:31,747 Speaker 3: mistake and crash and I had absolutely nowhere to go 45 00:02:31,787 --> 00:02:35,267 Speaker 3: and hit them and just lookated my shoulder. So it 46 00:02:35,307 --> 00:02:38,667 Speaker 3: was kind of frustrating because obviously I hadn't made the mistake, 47 00:02:38,707 --> 00:02:41,427 Speaker 3: but I was the one that was injured, and it 48 00:02:41,547 --> 00:02:43,427 Speaker 3: was three months out from the Games, and I was 49 00:02:43,627 --> 00:02:46,747 Speaker 3: just kind of like, Okay, the only thing I need 50 00:02:46,787 --> 00:02:52,187 Speaker 3: to know is do I need surgery before now, or like, 51 00:02:52,627 --> 00:02:54,787 Speaker 3: am I going to miss the Games? Or can I 52 00:02:54,827 --> 00:02:59,587 Speaker 3: do something and do that later? And obviously I could 53 00:03:00,387 --> 00:03:03,747 Speaker 3: do that later and focus on just rehabbing as well 54 00:03:03,787 --> 00:03:05,987 Speaker 3: as possible and turn up on the start line as 55 00:03:06,907 --> 00:03:08,987 Speaker 3: in good condition as they possibly could. 56 00:03:09,427 --> 00:03:11,307 Speaker 4: But you still had to qualify, is that right? You 57 00:03:11,347 --> 00:03:14,427 Speaker 4: still had me qualified at that point, so and amongst 58 00:03:14,427 --> 00:03:16,747 Speaker 4: all of that, so so what six weeks after that 59 00:03:16,827 --> 00:03:20,307 Speaker 4: crash World Champs in Birmingham you had to qualify? So 60 00:03:20,347 --> 00:03:23,627 Speaker 4: how challenging was it to get ready for that? 61 00:03:24,827 --> 00:03:28,387 Speaker 3: I think like in terms of my mindset, it was 62 00:03:28,467 --> 00:03:30,187 Speaker 3: just like that's the reality, and that's what I have 63 00:03:30,307 --> 00:03:34,667 Speaker 3: to do, so I'm going to go do it. Yeah. 64 00:03:34,787 --> 00:03:38,387 Speaker 3: So I went into the World Champs and it was actually, 65 00:03:38,987 --> 00:03:41,787 Speaker 3: I reckon it was perfect preparation for the Games because 66 00:03:42,187 --> 00:03:45,187 Speaker 3: the pressure on that World chance was if you perform, 67 00:03:45,307 --> 00:03:47,067 Speaker 3: me go to the Olympics. If you don't, you don't 68 00:03:47,067 --> 00:03:50,107 Speaker 3: even get to line up at the start line. So 69 00:03:50,147 --> 00:03:55,107 Speaker 3: it was kind of a similar amount of pressure because 70 00:03:55,467 --> 00:03:58,187 Speaker 3: of what the outcome of that race was. So I 71 00:03:58,307 --> 00:04:01,747 Speaker 3: needed to perform to the best mobility and that competition 72 00:04:02,587 --> 00:04:05,307 Speaker 3: to even get selected for the game. So I think, yeah, 73 00:04:06,547 --> 00:04:08,827 Speaker 3: perfect mental preparation, but very stressful. 74 00:04:09,027 --> 00:04:11,667 Speaker 4: It's so I can imagine what address root for. You 75 00:04:12,187 --> 00:04:15,347 Speaker 4: did fear of another crash play a part in your 76 00:04:15,427 --> 00:04:17,907 Speaker 4: mindset as you were as you were attempting to qualify 77 00:04:17,987 --> 00:04:18,467 Speaker 4: for London. 78 00:04:20,467 --> 00:04:22,427 Speaker 3: There was there was a balance because it was kind 79 00:04:22,467 --> 00:04:26,187 Speaker 3: of I wanted to turn up to London and the 80 00:04:26,227 --> 00:04:29,747 Speaker 3: best shape could possibly be, and I believed that even 81 00:04:29,787 --> 00:04:32,587 Speaker 3: with that injury, I was good enough to be the 82 00:04:32,587 --> 00:04:38,027 Speaker 3: best in the world at the game. So it was 83 00:04:38,107 --> 00:04:42,907 Speaker 3: kind of a I could play it safe and give 84 00:04:42,907 --> 00:04:46,107 Speaker 3: myself every chance of being on the start line and 85 00:04:47,427 --> 00:04:51,627 Speaker 3: maybe not being competitive, but being there at least, or 86 00:04:51,867 --> 00:04:55,107 Speaker 3: I can just give my best every single day, do 87 00:04:55,307 --> 00:04:58,187 Speaker 3: whatever I can to reduce the risk of hurting myself again, 88 00:04:59,667 --> 00:05:03,987 Speaker 3: but turn up best prepared I could possibly be and 89 00:05:04,027 --> 00:05:09,027 Speaker 3: give myself every chance of winning a gold medal. Then luck, 90 00:05:09,667 --> 00:05:11,587 Speaker 3: that was the kind of path that I could choose. 91 00:05:11,587 --> 00:05:16,867 Speaker 3: And so yeah, obviously I was. I done the participation 92 00:05:17,027 --> 00:05:20,107 Speaker 3: that finished fourth, and I was like, no, I believe 93 00:05:20,107 --> 00:05:22,227 Speaker 3: I'm good enough, and I'm going to aim for gold 94 00:05:22,547 --> 00:05:25,227 Speaker 3: and I'm going to reduce the risk where I can, 95 00:05:25,307 --> 00:05:27,547 Speaker 3: but I'm going to take more risks than I would 96 00:05:27,707 --> 00:05:29,707 Speaker 3: if I was just wanting to line up on the 97 00:05:29,707 --> 00:05:32,387 Speaker 3: start and that's all I was aiming for. So yeah, 98 00:05:32,507 --> 00:05:35,907 Speaker 3: gave it everything, and fortunately at those World Champs I 99 00:05:35,947 --> 00:05:36,587 Speaker 3: did qualify. 100 00:05:37,027 --> 00:05:40,987 Speaker 4: Yeah, yeah, and got to London and the silver medal. 101 00:05:41,027 --> 00:05:44,067 Speaker 4: As we know, I'm interested in the They're very fine 102 00:05:44,107 --> 00:05:46,347 Speaker 4: margins I'm sure between you know, you talk about the 103 00:05:46,467 --> 00:05:48,947 Speaker 4: risks that you take. It can be just very tiny 104 00:05:48,987 --> 00:05:52,067 Speaker 4: margins between those risks playing off I'm sure and then 105 00:05:52,107 --> 00:05:55,867 Speaker 4: having the opposite effect of crashes like you've experienced. How 106 00:05:55,907 --> 00:05:57,227 Speaker 4: big a mental game is that? 107 00:05:59,467 --> 00:06:02,107 Speaker 3: Yeah, it's huge. Like I tried tracks backing for a 108 00:06:02,107 --> 00:06:07,667 Speaker 3: couple of months, and I remember thinking how mentally or 109 00:06:07,747 --> 00:06:13,587 Speaker 3: emotionally easier to do a sport where there's less less rest. 110 00:06:15,467 --> 00:06:17,667 Speaker 3: The worst case scenario going to turn up to training 111 00:06:17,907 --> 00:06:22,267 Speaker 3: or competition and I'm going to be really exhausted at 112 00:06:22,307 --> 00:06:24,467 Speaker 3: the end of it, or if I've pushed my body 113 00:06:24,507 --> 00:06:27,067 Speaker 3: too hard, i might throw up. That's probably my worst 114 00:06:27,067 --> 00:06:31,267 Speaker 3: case scenario. Where every single week at training and thenx 115 00:06:31,347 --> 00:06:34,867 Speaker 3: and in a competition, you don't know whether you're going 116 00:06:34,907 --> 00:06:36,787 Speaker 3: to go home to your hotel or at home, or 117 00:06:37,387 --> 00:06:39,667 Speaker 3: you're going to go to the hospital after racing and 118 00:06:40,147 --> 00:06:41,747 Speaker 3: someone else is going to ask pat your bags, you know. 119 00:06:41,907 --> 00:06:47,307 Speaker 3: So the emotional pace is quite hard, but obviously a 120 00:06:47,307 --> 00:06:51,027 Speaker 3: lot of years of practices going and accepting that there 121 00:06:51,107 --> 00:06:54,227 Speaker 3: is risk in what we do. But it's also extremely 122 00:06:54,307 --> 00:06:58,987 Speaker 3: fun and enjoyable and I love that sport so much 123 00:06:59,067 --> 00:07:05,907 Speaker 3: that the good way outweighs the risk every time. But yeah, 124 00:07:05,907 --> 00:07:09,427 Speaker 3: it's it is something you just have to work like. 125 00:07:09,467 --> 00:07:11,267 Speaker 3: I did a lot of work with a sports psychologists. 126 00:07:11,307 --> 00:07:14,507 Speaker 3: They did thirteen years with the same sports sack, and 127 00:07:14,747 --> 00:07:18,587 Speaker 3: that was amazing in terms of just feeling the fear, 128 00:07:20,267 --> 00:07:23,867 Speaker 3: which I think got more challenging as they got more injuries, 129 00:07:24,507 --> 00:07:27,707 Speaker 3: but also going okay, well, how do I reduce the 130 00:07:27,787 --> 00:07:31,267 Speaker 3: risk And if I'm afraid of crashing, then I'm not 131 00:07:31,267 --> 00:07:33,027 Speaker 3: going to relax and ride the best that I can. 132 00:07:33,347 --> 00:07:36,547 Speaker 3: So I need to accept that's a possibility. But also 133 00:07:37,267 --> 00:07:41,787 Speaker 3: staying on my bike it's possible as well. And all 134 00:07:41,827 --> 00:07:43,587 Speaker 3: I can control is how I'm going to do my 135 00:07:43,667 --> 00:07:45,667 Speaker 3: best at how I'm going to peddle my hardest, how 136 00:07:45,707 --> 00:07:47,427 Speaker 3: I'm going to do the nicest jump, and also I 137 00:07:47,547 --> 00:07:50,467 Speaker 3: do all of those things right, then the chances are 138 00:07:50,467 --> 00:07:54,907 Speaker 3: cracking away less and so focusing on that and my 139 00:07:55,067 --> 00:07:59,147 Speaker 3: process allowed me to kind of put my fear on 140 00:07:59,147 --> 00:08:02,147 Speaker 3: to the side and really just intenptly to focus on 141 00:08:03,027 --> 00:08:05,307 Speaker 3: what I needed to do and how I needed to 142 00:08:05,347 --> 00:08:09,267 Speaker 3: perform those skills to be if they couldn't an except 143 00:08:09,307 --> 00:08:12,587 Speaker 3: that there were things outside of my control given people 144 00:08:12,587 --> 00:08:13,707 Speaker 3: in no lanes. 145 00:08:13,387 --> 00:08:16,907 Speaker 4: YEA, what great insight? What great insight? So you cross second? 146 00:08:17,707 --> 00:08:20,507 Speaker 4: Silver is yours? How are the emotions? What are you 147 00:08:20,547 --> 00:08:22,387 Speaker 4: most vivid memories of that? 148 00:08:23,587 --> 00:08:29,467 Speaker 3: I just like it was an insanely proud moment. I've 149 00:08:29,507 --> 00:08:35,107 Speaker 3: done a lot of work again with sports, like around 150 00:08:35,147 --> 00:08:37,427 Speaker 3: one of theiggest wins I had was believing in myself 151 00:08:37,467 --> 00:08:39,267 Speaker 3: and believing that I was good enough and I was 152 00:08:39,307 --> 00:08:44,467 Speaker 3: capable of winning, and the next step for that was 153 00:08:44,587 --> 00:08:47,627 Speaker 3: actually going. Okay, but it's all right if you don't win, 154 00:08:48,547 --> 00:08:51,067 Speaker 3: as long as you have given it everything like you could. 155 00:08:51,827 --> 00:08:55,307 Speaker 3: So at that finish line I crossed, and I just 156 00:08:55,387 --> 00:08:59,227 Speaker 3: knew that I'd under the ultimate pressure of an Olympic final. 157 00:08:59,947 --> 00:09:03,267 Speaker 3: I'd done my absolute best that I could ever have done, 158 00:09:03,707 --> 00:09:07,627 Speaker 3: and my first strait was incredible, and I raised the 159 00:09:07,627 --> 00:09:12,667 Speaker 3: best race I could given the circumstances it and so yeah, 160 00:09:12,787 --> 00:09:15,747 Speaker 3: costing the finish line, I didn't achieve my goal of 161 00:09:15,787 --> 00:09:19,507 Speaker 3: winning the gold, but because of all that mental work 162 00:09:19,587 --> 00:09:23,187 Speaker 3: of going, I'm good enough to achieve it. But it's 163 00:09:23,227 --> 00:09:26,907 Speaker 3: okay if I don't, because there's a lot of things 164 00:09:26,907 --> 00:09:31,307 Speaker 3: that I can't control and that closes my competitors. But 165 00:09:31,387 --> 00:09:35,267 Speaker 3: in that one moment, in that thirty eight seconds, one 166 00:09:35,307 --> 00:09:37,667 Speaker 3: person in the world was better than me, and that's 167 00:09:37,707 --> 00:09:41,147 Speaker 3: absolutely okay because I rode my best race in that moment. 168 00:09:42,867 --> 00:09:46,867 Speaker 3: So yeah, just pride is really pride for myself, pride 169 00:09:46,907 --> 00:09:52,827 Speaker 3: for New Zealand, and just it was weird because I 170 00:09:52,827 --> 00:09:57,547 Speaker 3: remember getting the Olympic medal around my neck on the podium, 171 00:09:57,587 --> 00:10:00,307 Speaker 3: which is something that you kind of picture or hope 172 00:10:00,307 --> 00:10:04,027 Speaker 3: for as an athletes for many, many years. And I 173 00:10:04,067 --> 00:10:11,147 Speaker 3: remember thinking that the object of the medal wasn't as 174 00:10:11,267 --> 00:10:14,507 Speaker 3: powerful as the feeling of pride that I had, and 175 00:10:14,587 --> 00:10:17,507 Speaker 3: I was quite surprised by that. I thought the object 176 00:10:17,667 --> 00:10:21,227 Speaker 3: was mean more to me than it did, but the 177 00:10:21,227 --> 00:10:25,587 Speaker 3: feeling of what I had was actually the overpowering thing. 178 00:10:26,507 --> 00:10:30,707 Speaker 4: That is so cool, that's so cool. Of course London 179 00:10:30,787 --> 00:10:32,387 Speaker 4: was your second games. Of course you're in Beijing in 180 00:10:32,427 --> 00:10:35,147 Speaker 4: two thousand and eight, just out of the medals and fourth. 181 00:10:35,467 --> 00:10:36,627 Speaker 4: How do you reflect on Beijing? 182 00:10:38,227 --> 00:10:42,467 Speaker 3: I didn't believe in myself. I think is the biggest reflection, 183 00:10:42,867 --> 00:10:45,907 Speaker 3: and that was what we we recognized and worked on 184 00:10:46,067 --> 00:10:48,587 Speaker 3: for that next four years. But I kind of looked 185 00:10:48,587 --> 00:10:53,507 Speaker 3: at it as most young Olympians do at their first games. 186 00:10:53,867 --> 00:10:56,827 Speaker 3: I'm here for the experience. I'm aiming for the next one. 187 00:10:57,307 --> 00:11:01,787 Speaker 3: I'll see what happens that, you know, like I could 188 00:11:02,107 --> 00:11:08,507 Speaker 3: win a medal, but anything happened. Kind of almost setting 189 00:11:08,547 --> 00:11:12,867 Speaker 3: myself up to have reasons why it wouldn't work before 190 00:11:12,907 --> 00:11:15,987 Speaker 3: I even took the start line, rather than just focusing 191 00:11:16,027 --> 00:11:17,947 Speaker 3: on how do I turn up and do the best 192 00:11:17,947 --> 00:11:20,827 Speaker 3: that I can, even though it's my first games, even 193 00:11:20,827 --> 00:11:25,187 Speaker 3: though I'm young, or even though whatever. It's like po 194 00:11:25,427 --> 00:11:28,987 Speaker 3: all of those things, But actually, how do I get 195 00:11:28,987 --> 00:11:31,107 Speaker 3: the best start I can? How do I do this 196 00:11:31,627 --> 00:11:35,027 Speaker 3: as smooth as possible? How do I put myself in 197 00:11:35,067 --> 00:11:37,507 Speaker 3: a position to get the best lines around the track, 198 00:11:37,587 --> 00:11:42,827 Speaker 3: and like really focus on that process as much as possible. 199 00:11:44,427 --> 00:11:49,027 Speaker 3: In reality, I was just a little eight year old 200 00:11:49,107 --> 00:11:51,747 Speaker 3: me who dreamed of the coming in Olympian one day 201 00:11:51,827 --> 00:11:54,747 Speaker 3: just being like, I'm here, this is insane, this is 202 00:11:54,787 --> 00:11:58,187 Speaker 3: so cool, it's so surreal. I'm like living a dream, 203 00:11:58,507 --> 00:12:02,907 Speaker 3: and I was really I don't know if you'd say distracted, 204 00:12:02,947 --> 00:12:06,627 Speaker 3: but yeah, just focused on the fact that I was 205 00:12:06,707 --> 00:12:09,347 Speaker 3: there rather than what I needed to do. 206 00:12:11,147 --> 00:12:14,387 Speaker 4: And then Rio twenty sixteen. You missed that one through injury, 207 00:12:14,387 --> 00:12:15,827 Speaker 4: and then this is a roller coaster of a chat. 208 00:12:15,867 --> 00:12:20,947 Speaker 4: I tell you a training acid in February twenty sixteen, 209 00:12:21,067 --> 00:12:23,707 Speaker 4: So how gutting not to make it to rear. 210 00:12:25,107 --> 00:12:28,787 Speaker 3: Yeah, I think that was one of the hardest days 211 00:12:28,827 --> 00:12:33,147 Speaker 3: I think that I've ever had an athlete. Was the 212 00:12:33,227 --> 00:12:38,947 Speaker 3: day didn't qualify at the World Champs that year, the 213 00:12:39,027 --> 00:12:44,547 Speaker 3: crash itself. I knew instantly that I'd done something bad. 214 00:12:44,667 --> 00:12:49,147 Speaker 3: So I broke my humor, which is a brown bone, 215 00:12:49,387 --> 00:12:52,867 Speaker 3: and did a pretty good job of it. So I 216 00:12:52,947 --> 00:12:56,627 Speaker 3: knew immediately something was bad because when I crashed and 217 00:12:56,827 --> 00:12:59,707 Speaker 3: sat straight back up, I couldn't feel my arm at all, 218 00:13:00,547 --> 00:13:04,587 Speaker 3: and through my history of breaking bones, I was like, Okay, 219 00:13:04,667 --> 00:13:08,947 Speaker 3: well my body is not giving me signal from that part. 220 00:13:09,907 --> 00:13:11,667 Speaker 3: I'm not going to look at which way this might 221 00:13:11,707 --> 00:13:13,867 Speaker 3: be facing or what might be poking out where it 222 00:13:13,907 --> 00:13:19,107 Speaker 3: shouldn't be. And but yeah, it was. It was just 223 00:13:19,187 --> 00:13:21,747 Speaker 3: kind of like ring an ambulance and we'll sort it out. 224 00:13:21,827 --> 00:13:26,947 Speaker 3: But the recovery from that took like three years until 225 00:13:26,947 --> 00:13:28,947 Speaker 3: I got the plates back out again that it actually 226 00:13:29,027 --> 00:13:31,747 Speaker 3: was much better. But you do what you can in 227 00:13:31,787 --> 00:13:34,267 Speaker 3: the meantime and make the best of the situation. And 228 00:13:34,347 --> 00:13:38,627 Speaker 3: I did everything I could to get ready and still qualify, 229 00:13:38,707 --> 00:13:44,347 Speaker 3: but it just wasn't strong enough, and it actually caused 230 00:13:44,347 --> 00:13:47,867 Speaker 3: me to have another crash and hurt my other shoulder 231 00:13:48,507 --> 00:13:51,507 Speaker 3: because I was just pushing to try and make it. 232 00:13:51,547 --> 00:13:55,507 Speaker 3: But I was just like what I was, there's even 233 00:13:55,747 --> 00:13:57,947 Speaker 3: if there's still a one percent chance and I could 234 00:13:57,947 --> 00:14:01,107 Speaker 3: make it, then I'm going to try, and so that 235 00:14:01,267 --> 00:14:04,947 Speaker 3: was my attitude. Yeah, I think it was hard because 236 00:14:05,907 --> 00:14:10,987 Speaker 3: before that crash in the weeks leading into that, it 237 00:14:11,027 --> 00:14:13,827 Speaker 3: was the start of the season and heading into like 238 00:14:14,027 --> 00:14:18,507 Speaker 3: Olympic year, and all of my testing every single week, 239 00:14:18,547 --> 00:14:21,827 Speaker 3: I was doing personal best and I was feeling good. 240 00:14:22,467 --> 00:14:27,347 Speaker 3: Even Heather and one of my journals saying like, I 241 00:14:27,387 --> 00:14:31,387 Speaker 3: can't sleep because I just think of like how cool 242 00:14:31,467 --> 00:14:36,227 Speaker 3: everything's going, and I'm just so excited. So rather than 243 00:14:36,227 --> 00:14:38,987 Speaker 3: not sleeping through stress, I was not sleeping through excitement. 244 00:14:39,067 --> 00:14:44,027 Speaker 3: And it was just what I was realizing what I 245 00:14:44,147 --> 00:14:47,907 Speaker 3: was truly capable in terms of difficult performance and what 246 00:14:48,107 --> 00:14:51,387 Speaker 3: was possible. And I really wanted to see what that 247 00:14:51,547 --> 00:14:54,507 Speaker 3: meant when I lined up against other people, but never 248 00:14:54,547 --> 00:14:56,987 Speaker 3: got the opportunity because of that crash. 249 00:14:57,027 --> 00:14:59,667 Speaker 4: Man, this is a roller coaster. We've heard about Rio 250 00:14:59,747 --> 00:15:03,027 Speaker 4: twenty sixteen and how injury robbed you of the chance 251 00:15:03,067 --> 00:15:06,067 Speaker 4: to compete there. What about Tokyo? Were the Tokyo Games 252 00:15:06,067 --> 00:15:06,787 Speaker 4: on your right up? 253 00:15:08,067 --> 00:15:11,987 Speaker 3: And yes, yeah it was. So I started Olympic qualifying. 254 00:15:13,467 --> 00:15:17,147 Speaker 3: One of the races was twenty twenty World Cup in 255 00:15:17,667 --> 00:15:23,267 Speaker 3: Australia in February, and then came home to kind of 256 00:15:23,307 --> 00:15:27,587 Speaker 3: continue to season and then obviously covered arrived on the 257 00:15:27,587 --> 00:15:33,387 Speaker 3: world's doorsteps and really stopped the international travel and being 258 00:15:33,387 --> 00:15:36,267 Speaker 3: able to go to races and get points and try 259 00:15:36,307 --> 00:15:41,507 Speaker 3: and qualify well New Zealand managing the spot, but in 260 00:15:41,627 --> 00:15:46,227 Speaker 3: terms of selection, just not going to any races besides 261 00:15:46,267 --> 00:15:49,667 Speaker 3: that one race that came down to that one race. 262 00:15:49,707 --> 00:15:55,187 Speaker 3: And yeah, myself and Rebecca Pitch, who went to Tokyo 263 00:15:55,187 --> 00:15:58,027 Speaker 3: Games for the NX, were pretty much similar results. And 264 00:15:58,827 --> 00:16:01,587 Speaker 3: I think given that she's ten years younger and I 265 00:16:01,667 --> 00:16:03,907 Speaker 3: was towards the end of my career, I think they 266 00:16:03,907 --> 00:16:07,467 Speaker 3: started looking for the future and they took and she 267 00:16:07,987 --> 00:16:11,547 Speaker 3: did amazing and I was just stuck to see newbe 268 00:16:11,587 --> 00:16:13,827 Speaker 3: All on the start line at the Olympics again and 269 00:16:13,947 --> 00:16:17,267 Speaker 3: being next to a girl. So yeah, it was. It 270 00:16:17,347 --> 00:16:21,867 Speaker 3: was a bit raughter. It was kind of like one 271 00:16:21,907 --> 00:16:25,627 Speaker 3: of my goals was when I finished writing that I 272 00:16:25,707 --> 00:16:28,427 Speaker 3: still love what I do and I still love my sport, 273 00:16:28,507 --> 00:16:33,427 Speaker 3: because a lot of people who dedicate like ten, fifteen, 274 00:16:33,627 --> 00:16:36,747 Speaker 3: twenty years to a sport just want to break and 275 00:16:36,907 --> 00:16:40,307 Speaker 3: just want to kind of sometimes never do that sport again. 276 00:16:42,467 --> 00:16:45,747 Speaker 3: But I really wanted to like go through that last 277 00:16:45,747 --> 00:16:50,107 Speaker 3: Olympic cicle to Tokyo and know that I did it 278 00:16:50,147 --> 00:16:52,907 Speaker 3: because it was a cool sport and I loved doing it. 279 00:16:54,347 --> 00:16:57,067 Speaker 3: But you don't know if for sure, if it's your 280 00:16:57,107 --> 00:17:00,707 Speaker 3: actual truth or you're lying to yourself, until you're in 281 00:17:00,747 --> 00:17:03,187 Speaker 3: a situation where you're like, well, did you do it 282 00:17:03,187 --> 00:17:04,667 Speaker 3: because you loved it or did you do it just 283 00:17:04,707 --> 00:17:09,147 Speaker 3: because you want to go to a mother alum? And 284 00:17:09,267 --> 00:17:11,547 Speaker 3: so when I didn't make the team, it was like 285 00:17:11,667 --> 00:17:15,507 Speaker 3: a right were were you telling truth to yourself or 286 00:17:15,507 --> 00:17:18,867 Speaker 3: were you trying to pretend? And the first thing I 287 00:17:18,907 --> 00:17:20,707 Speaker 3: did was put on all my gear and go for 288 00:17:20,707 --> 00:17:24,787 Speaker 3: a ride at the track. So even though I hadn't qualified, 289 00:17:25,227 --> 00:17:29,147 Speaker 3: I was really proud of myself that I had achieved 290 00:17:29,587 --> 00:17:34,427 Speaker 3: that next block or Olympic cycle on my bike, doing 291 00:17:34,427 --> 00:17:38,587 Speaker 3: what I love, and that made their Olympic team. Of 292 00:17:38,627 --> 00:17:41,027 Speaker 3: course it would have been amazing and the cherry on top, 293 00:17:41,107 --> 00:17:44,947 Speaker 3: but it wasn't wasn't my core why I was riding. 294 00:17:45,067 --> 00:17:48,867 Speaker 3: And yes, I'm really glad I actually did that Olympic 295 00:17:48,907 --> 00:17:52,107 Speaker 3: cycle because I made the podium at the World Cup 296 00:17:54,187 --> 00:17:58,787 Speaker 3: late twenty eighteen in Argentina and that was just like 297 00:17:58,827 --> 00:18:02,587 Speaker 3: this kind of justification that I'm still one of the 298 00:18:02,627 --> 00:18:05,067 Speaker 3: best in the world and that I was right to 299 00:18:05,187 --> 00:18:08,347 Speaker 3: keep the living in myself even though others may been 300 00:18:08,387 --> 00:18:13,387 Speaker 3: cushing like my age or my injuries or whatever. So 301 00:18:13,467 --> 00:18:15,827 Speaker 3: that was quite a satisfying moment. 302 00:18:17,187 --> 00:18:21,227 Speaker 4: So are you at peace with your elite career? Because, 303 00:18:21,587 --> 00:18:24,587 Speaker 4: as I mentioned, it's it's had it's had its peaks 304 00:18:24,587 --> 00:18:26,227 Speaker 4: and troughs. It's been a roller coaster. To use a 305 00:18:26,267 --> 00:18:28,467 Speaker 4: couple of cliches, Are you at peace with it? 306 00:18:29,267 --> 00:18:32,147 Speaker 3: Yeah? Yeah, I'm really really proud that I'm at peace 307 00:18:32,187 --> 00:18:36,187 Speaker 3: with it. Like I didn't feel even after the Rio 308 00:18:36,307 --> 00:18:41,307 Speaker 3: cycle I committed to Tokyo. It wasn't like I need 309 00:18:41,307 --> 00:18:45,347 Speaker 3: to keep going because I feel like there's unfinished business. 310 00:18:45,387 --> 00:18:48,067 Speaker 3: It was I want to keep going because I love 311 00:18:48,107 --> 00:18:53,147 Speaker 3: it and with the benefit of hindsight being able to 312 00:18:53,187 --> 00:18:58,667 Speaker 3: go that was authentic and genuine, and that there doesn't 313 00:18:58,707 --> 00:19:02,907 Speaker 3: feel like anything that I left that I didn't achieve 314 00:19:03,027 --> 00:19:05,947 Speaker 3: that I wanted to or ever. It's kind of it's 315 00:19:05,987 --> 00:19:09,587 Speaker 3: really nice. So yes, definitely had paced with my whole 316 00:19:09,587 --> 00:19:13,827 Speaker 3: career and a journey that I had, and even through 317 00:19:14,227 --> 00:19:17,307 Speaker 3: the baoundaries and the feedbacks, it was all part of 318 00:19:17,307 --> 00:19:20,427 Speaker 3: that journey and like, yeah, it's really cool. 319 00:19:21,227 --> 00:19:24,147 Speaker 4: And during the yeah, and during the Rio Games, even 320 00:19:24,147 --> 00:19:26,907 Speaker 4: though you couldn't compete, it was announced you'd been elected 321 00:19:26,907 --> 00:19:29,827 Speaker 4: onto the IOC Athletes Commission for an eight year term, which, 322 00:19:29,827 --> 00:19:31,987 Speaker 4: as I mentioned at the start of the chat, concludes 323 00:19:31,987 --> 00:19:34,787 Speaker 4: after the upcoming Paris Games. So what does that work 324 00:19:34,827 --> 00:19:37,107 Speaker 4: involved for you over the last eight years. 325 00:19:37,507 --> 00:19:40,827 Speaker 3: Yeah, that was that was pretty crazy. I remember being 326 00:19:40,987 --> 00:19:46,427 Speaker 3: at home and obviously with Rio it was quite a 327 00:19:46,427 --> 00:19:51,347 Speaker 3: big time difference that I did to Eliza McCartney. Actually 328 00:19:52,187 --> 00:19:54,827 Speaker 3: it was her first impacts and I said, if you 329 00:19:55,067 --> 00:19:59,067 Speaker 3: wake up on competition day and you just overwhelmed by 330 00:19:59,347 --> 00:20:03,387 Speaker 3: the fact that it's the day, which I would totally understand. 331 00:20:03,427 --> 00:20:06,827 Speaker 3: I've been there. If you need to bring me ring me, 332 00:20:07,027 --> 00:20:12,187 Speaker 3: I'll leave my phone on loud overnight and just just ring. 333 00:20:13,147 --> 00:20:16,347 Speaker 3: So my phone went off it to wait in the morning. 334 00:20:17,827 --> 00:20:19,867 Speaker 3: It was the only day that I left my phone 335 00:20:19,947 --> 00:20:24,707 Speaker 3: on loud and at the phone, thing it's going to 336 00:20:24,707 --> 00:20:27,187 Speaker 3: be Eliza, and it was actually the head of the 337 00:20:27,227 --> 00:20:33,427 Speaker 3: Athletes department at the IOC danying like you need to 338 00:20:33,427 --> 00:20:36,347 Speaker 3: be awake because the IOC president's going to caught with you. 339 00:20:36,427 --> 00:20:41,387 Speaker 3: So I was like, oh, all right, I'm awake, I'm away. 340 00:20:43,387 --> 00:20:49,467 Speaker 3: So I remember sitting just staring at my phone waiting 341 00:20:49,507 --> 00:20:52,387 Speaker 3: for this phone call, and at five a m. Three 342 00:20:52,427 --> 00:20:57,787 Speaker 3: hours later, I finally get the call, which is obviously 343 00:20:57,947 --> 00:21:03,707 Speaker 3: exciting that I was so wired for that, to get 344 00:21:03,707 --> 00:21:06,267 Speaker 3: the call being like, yeah, we want you to be 345 00:21:06,547 --> 00:21:10,387 Speaker 3: on the Athletes Commission, but in order to get on 346 00:21:10,427 --> 00:21:12,227 Speaker 3: the Athletes Commission this year, you need to be in 347 00:21:12,307 --> 00:21:16,707 Speaker 3: Rio tomorrow. So you need to be on the next 348 00:21:16,747 --> 00:21:20,347 Speaker 3: flight out of New Zealand to britil so that you 349 00:21:20,387 --> 00:21:24,267 Speaker 3: can become part of the IOC as an ethnic representative. 350 00:21:24,307 --> 00:21:29,347 Speaker 3: And so yeah, uh got my passports, drove to the airport, 351 00:21:30,227 --> 00:21:34,187 Speaker 3: flew out on the very next flight, and yeah, the 352 00:21:34,307 --> 00:21:39,107 Speaker 3: rest is history. But it's been so cool. So basically 353 00:21:40,507 --> 00:21:42,987 Speaker 3: I was pretty unwhelmed to start with about all the 354 00:21:43,067 --> 00:21:47,507 Speaker 3: different things that the committee do and all the different 355 00:21:47,587 --> 00:21:51,347 Speaker 3: initiatives and cool things that they're involved with, all the 356 00:21:51,387 --> 00:21:57,307 Speaker 3: different departments, and yeah, I think I was initially just 357 00:21:58,067 --> 00:21:59,627 Speaker 3: thought there was no way I'd be able to either 358 00:21:59,747 --> 00:22:04,627 Speaker 3: understand all of it. But like my sport, I just 359 00:22:04,667 --> 00:22:07,067 Speaker 3: focused on giving my best that I had each day 360 00:22:07,107 --> 00:22:10,907 Speaker 3: and each time that we had meetings, and in contributing 361 00:22:10,907 --> 00:22:14,387 Speaker 3: where I can, But yeah, I would time I learned 362 00:22:14,467 --> 00:22:20,987 Speaker 3: more and got better and could positively impact the the 363 00:22:21,067 --> 00:22:24,347 Speaker 3: athlete experience of being at the Olympics and the athlete 364 00:22:24,387 --> 00:22:27,907 Speaker 3: experience in general of between games as well. And it's 365 00:22:27,947 --> 00:22:31,267 Speaker 3: been very, very rewarding to be able to be part 366 00:22:31,347 --> 00:22:35,907 Speaker 3: of those decisions that that obviously make that impact the 367 00:22:35,947 --> 00:22:36,907 Speaker 3: athletes love. 368 00:22:36,827 --> 00:22:39,027 Speaker 4: You know, Yeah, what a cool thing, What a cool 369 00:22:39,027 --> 00:22:41,027 Speaker 4: thing to be able to do. So where is your 370 00:22:41,027 --> 00:22:42,427 Speaker 4: silver metal? Where do you keep up? 371 00:22:44,987 --> 00:22:51,147 Speaker 3: I think I think it's in the cavern and I 372 00:22:51,147 --> 00:22:57,587 Speaker 3: think I know which cabin that. Yeah, it's very worn, 373 00:22:58,347 --> 00:23:02,107 Speaker 3: the ribbon is tatty and the metal has some dents 374 00:23:02,107 --> 00:23:05,947 Speaker 3: in it, But like, I love that because I shared 375 00:23:05,987 --> 00:23:12,987 Speaker 3: it with as many people and schools, as many kids 376 00:23:13,027 --> 00:23:15,467 Speaker 3: basically as they could when I got home from the Games, 377 00:23:15,507 --> 00:23:19,067 Speaker 3: and got every kid that wanted to put it around 378 00:23:19,067 --> 00:23:22,387 Speaker 3: their neck and get a photo, like, just as many 379 00:23:22,387 --> 00:23:25,387 Speaker 3: hands on it as possible, because I think the first 380 00:23:25,387 --> 00:23:27,827 Speaker 3: time I held in the Olympic medal was at Beijing 381 00:23:27,867 --> 00:23:32,867 Speaker 3: Olympic and it was already been a massive goal of 382 00:23:32,867 --> 00:23:37,787 Speaker 3: mine anyway, but to hold a medal just I felt 383 00:23:38,307 --> 00:23:41,387 Speaker 3: like so inspired at Beijing, and now I could share 384 00:23:41,467 --> 00:23:43,747 Speaker 3: that with as many people as possible, so I did, 385 00:23:43,827 --> 00:23:47,947 Speaker 3: And so it's it's a lot worse for wear, and 386 00:23:47,987 --> 00:23:52,347 Speaker 3: it's sitting somewhere, and I'm sure if I went looking 387 00:23:52,347 --> 00:23:56,587 Speaker 3: for I would find it. But like I said, the 388 00:23:57,867 --> 00:24:04,587 Speaker 3: medal itself as an object became a symbol of how 389 00:24:04,627 --> 00:24:09,867 Speaker 3: I felt. But feeling even to this day, what twelve 390 00:24:09,947 --> 00:24:15,987 Speaker 3: years later, still is stronger than the metal itself and 391 00:24:16,067 --> 00:24:18,907 Speaker 3: the object, like, I don't need to hold the metal 392 00:24:18,987 --> 00:24:22,827 Speaker 3: to be reminded of the pride that I had on 393 00:24:22,867 --> 00:24:27,267 Speaker 3: that day. But maybe in the future, when a few 394 00:24:27,267 --> 00:24:30,707 Speaker 3: more years pass, I'll bring it out so that I 395 00:24:30,707 --> 00:24:33,827 Speaker 3: can look at it and be reminded more often. But 396 00:24:33,867 --> 00:24:36,107 Speaker 3: at the moment it's still I don't know. It seems 397 00:24:36,187 --> 00:24:39,827 Speaker 3: fairly it feels fresh enough that I don't need to 398 00:24:40,027 --> 00:24:44,667 Speaker 3: need it out to get that feeling, you know, Yeah. 399 00:24:44,587 --> 00:24:44,827 Speaker 4: I do. 400 00:24:44,987 --> 00:24:45,067 Speaker 3: Well. 401 00:24:45,067 --> 00:24:47,067 Speaker 4: It feels like the yeah, the medals. The metal has 402 00:24:47,107 --> 00:24:49,547 Speaker 4: been bumped and bruised a bit and knocked around in 403 00:24:49,587 --> 00:24:52,627 Speaker 4: a bit worse for wear, but still shining bright, no doubt, 404 00:24:52,627 --> 00:24:55,867 Speaker 4: which seems like a nice little analogy to you as well. 405 00:24:56,667 --> 00:25:00,227 Speaker 4: It's true, yeah, Sarah, it's been It's been such a 406 00:25:00,227 --> 00:25:01,747 Speaker 4: little light to chat to you. Thank you for being 407 00:25:01,747 --> 00:25:05,867 Speaker 4: so so authentic with a chat about your your BMX career. 408 00:25:06,347 --> 00:25:09,587 Speaker 4: It's been such such a cool twenty minutes Channey to you. 409 00:25:09,627 --> 00:25:10,667 Speaker 4: Thanks so much for taking the time. 410 00:25:10,747 --> 00:25:12,587 Speaker 3: Yeah, Nori, thank you so much. 411 00:25:12,787 --> 00:25:17,347 Speaker 4: Thank you, Sarah. Sarah Walker there, silver medallist London twenty 412 00:25:17,387 --> 00:25:20,507 Speaker 4: twelve and the final stop on our road to Paris. 413 00:25:21,067 --> 00:25:24,227 Speaker 1: For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live 414 00:25:24,347 --> 00:25:27,627 Speaker 1: to News Talk sed B weekends from midday, or follow 415 00:25:27,667 --> 00:25:29,227 Speaker 1: the podcast on iHeartRadio.