Olympic medallist Tom Walsh reflected on his challenging year, admitting parts of it were "incredibly tough".
Olympic medallist Tom Walsh reflected on his challenging year, admitting parts of it were "incredibly tough".
Kiwi shot putter Tom Walsh has opened up on the tough couple of months that left him in a "pretty big mental hole" before competing at the Olympics.
Walsh claimed the bronze medal in Tokyo this year, throwing a season's best 22.47 metres to replicate his success at the RioOlympics five years ago.
Ahead of what shapes up to be another busy season in 2022, Walsh reflected on his challenging year, admitting parts of it were "incredibly tough".
"The last 18 months, two years have been pretty bloody challenging for everyone," Walsh said. "I was pretty lucky to go overseas and compete and get ready for the Olympics before the actual Olympic date, where a lot of people didn't get that chance. So I was very lucky to do that.
"But it was incredibly tough, just with some of the protocols, things with travel, the amount of Covid tests ... you had to have all the right documentation. It was just another layer of admin compared to most years."
Tom Walsh competing at the Potts Classic in Hastings in January. Photo / Photosport
Along with preparing for one of the biggest events in his career, Walsh said he also struggled mentally in the months leading up to the Games.
He credited his team for helping him get through it and was ultimately content with how he performed in Tokyo, although he is still disappointed not to take home gold.
"I was in a pretty big mental hole in May and June this year, so to be able to get myself out of that was a lot of help from the team. I could've gone a lot worse that's for sure. I didn't probably throw what I was capable of throwing.
"But coming from as far back as where I came from and how much I was beating myself up and things like that in May, June ... obviously I would've wanted gold, but coming away with that [was good].
"Also managing to throw big when it counted – you know, that was my season's best by 30-40 centimetres on the day – and that's kind of one thing I do pride myself on is always showing when it really matters. And I managed to do that with everything else that was going on in the world and in my head and all that kind of stuff."
Next year is looking like it will present its own set of unique challenges, with a jam-packed schedule including the World Indoor Championships in Serbia, the World Championships in America and the Commonwealth Games in the UK within the space of a few months, as well as the difficulties presented by the unrelenting pandemic.
The good news is Walsh could be allowed to come home in between events, following the Government's announcement of changes to MIQ next year for international returnees.
"That does change things quite a bit ... it probably means I'll be coming home after World Indoors, which is good, for about two months, and then back away overseas for a month and a half.
"It definitely makes it easier being an individual athlete now. We didn't get the same treatment as what teams got, which was a shame, but that's just how it is."
Tom Walsh celebrates with his bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics. Photo / Photosport
Despite the busy schedule, Walsh says he is in a much better place and is looking forward to the season ahead.
"Every year is generally a big year. There's always a major for us. I guess there's [now] probably one extra major in each year, which is not necessarily a bad thing. It's a good three-year period to be good at throwing shot."
"I always want a gold," he added. "I've got to defend my title at World Indoors and the Commonwealth Games, and hopefully reclaim a title at the World Champs. It is a pretty exciting time but I do feel in a much better space mentally. I feel like our team is all going in the right direction as well. It's going to be a good year."
In the meantime, Walsh is looking forward to blowing off some steam on the cricket pitch at the yearly Black Clash exhibition match, where he will play alongside some of his cricketing idols.
"It was probably my favourite sport growing up," Walsh said. "I always looked up to a lot of these guys.
"I played cricket all through high school and I even played for three years up here in Christchurch as well until I really chose at 21 to go into shot put. So it's definitely something I spent a lot of time doing and it's one of the sports I really missed playing. And I've still got a lot of mates who do play it, so they'll have a good laugh when they find out about me making the cut."
