Alana Barber weighs in with the New Zealand Herald to discuss her stellar day.
Alana Barber's silver medal in the 20km race walk fulfilled a lifelong dream; the achievement all the more special for the presence of her mother and father, the latter leaving New Zealand for the first time in 45 years to witness this moment.
In brutally punishing 27 degree heat along Currumbin Beachfront, Barber displayed immense spirit.
Her pained grimace depicted constant agony from the halfway mark but she was never going to let a medal slip. Cramping in her groin for the final 5km, she gusted it out and at least savoured the home straight after grabbing one of two New Zealand flags from her parents, stationed sideline.
Given Barber has never won an international race; finished 18th in the 2015 World Championships and 35th at the Rio Olympics, Commonwealth Games silver represents a surprise result from the 30-year-old Aucklander who was overwhelmed by emotion.
Race walking for the past eight years, Barber strived for this feat ever since knowing mother Shirley Somervell finished eighth at the 1974 Commonwealth Games in the 800m run. She also competed in the 4x400 relay.
"That's the best part about this that both my parents are here," a jubilant Barber beamed. "It's just a quick trip from New Zealand but the fact my dad came is extra special because he hasn't left New Zealand since 1973 because he hates travelling so for him to sacrifice his own travel anxiety to come here and watch me race makes it even more special.
"I've watched older New Zealanders do really well at the Commonwealth Games ever since I was little so I think I can say I've waited for this my whole life."
Barber's parents couldn't sleep the night before the race, such was their collective anxiety.
"I'm very pleased I made the trip. I had to get a new passport – they'd never seen a passport so old," Barber's proud father, David, said. "It's a fantastic day. All our dreams have come true. We went every lap with her. It's unfinished business because Shirley didn't quite medal in 1974."
Crucially, Barber prepared for the sweltering conditions. She trained in hot climates, lapped up the Auckland humidity, and wore an ice vest prior to the race to keep her temperature down. At the start line she visibly shivered – the tactic allowing her to stay cool until heat and fatigue hit at once.
With a medal in reach, Barber kept telling herself 'just keep going'.
"It was relief," she said of her immediate emotions. "I'm glad I didn't have anyone close by because I was really cramping up. The last 5km my legs had gone so I just needed to get to the finish line. It was really tough especially the last 5km you really felt that heat."
Alana Barber of New Zealand crosses the line to win the silver medal during the Women's 20km Race Walk Final. Photo / Getty Images
Barber looked determined from the outset, setting the early pace to lead at the 5km mark.
Australian duo Jemima Montag and Claire Tallent eventually pulled away, and it seemed Barber would hold off Wales' Bethan Davies to claim bronze, only for drama to re-write the script.
Tallent, leading the race with 2km remaining, received her third red flag for lifting both feet at the same time and was, therefore, disqualified on the spot. She collapsed to the ground, distraught.
For Barber that meant promotion to second, a position she held to finish one minute 28s behind Montag.
In the men's 20km race, Wellington's Quentin Rew needed medical assistance as he crossed the line in fifth.
"I had a few gnarly cramps over the finish line so I'll get into an ice bath and try and recover," Rew said. "I wanted a medal so I had to be aggressive. The first five and 10km I have never been through that fast in a 20km before and I was still a bit off the pace."
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