by Alfonz JuckWorld Indoor Champion Shot Putter Tomas Walsh is constantly chasing perfection! #ShotPut #NewZealand pic.twitter.com/zbW9syugJR
— Gillette World Sport (@WorldSport) April 26, 2017
I will let you in on a secret. I have done thousands of interviews, over the 39 years that I have been writing about this sport that I love. Tomas Walsh, Valerie Adams and Nick Willis are absolutely some of the finest athletes, but also human beings that I have ever met. Kiwis all, Walsh is competitive about everything and can be quite explicit on what makes him happy and when he has been treated poorly. One of the best senses of humor and also one of the most competitive athletes of any era is Dame Valerie Adams. I respect her also because of the level of decorum she has kept in the light of the drug cheats she has been subjected to in her career. Nick Willis? Nick Willis makes everything look so darn easy, and it is not. His agent Mark Wetmore reminded me of this, when, in Rio in 2016, Nick scooted himself into a bronze medal and oh,r so close to the silver. His 43rd sub 4 minute mile, but also making it the 18th year he had broken a four minute mile, equaling the record of another Kiwi, Sir John Walker. I would never, ever wager against a fit Nick Willis in a championship race. Willis smells the route to a medal. And that last 50 meters? Willis is a deadly finisher.
Second throw and I’m going to Tokyo baby 🇯🇵💥 20 months outta the circle and this mama has still got it🙌🽠18.65m for the victory. Awesome competition to open my season. Very consistent from the startâ˜‘ï¸ Thank you Potts Classic. On to the next
📸 @alishalovrich pic.twitter.com/lDYx3mTXTY— Dame Valerie Adams (@ValerieAdams84) January 25, 2020
Walsh and Adams to headline
CHRISTCHURCH (NZL): Tom Walsh and Dame Valerie Adams in the shot put and Nick Willis in the 1500m should highlight the Jennian Homes New Zealand Track and Field championships to be held at NgÄPuna Wai Sports Hub in Christchurch this Friday and over the weekend. Edward Osei-Nketia will defend his 100m title against Hamish Gill.
“The biggest mistake I see in young athletes is rushing back from injury. There’s always a race to make some money so I always tell them: Let your health, your training and your fitness determine what races you choose.”
Longevity – by @nickwillis: https://t.co/OUwokRQyJc pic.twitter.com/j8RCWZZ7gD
— SPIKES (@spikesmag) February 19, 2020
