Nina Kennedy and Matt Denny will lead the cost in Australia’s medal quest because the pair eagerly await a gruelling ultimate battle in Paris.
For the reason that challenges of Tokyo the place she was in isolation after which missed the qualification measure for the ultimate, Kennedy has but to fail to ship on the world stage.
After respecting the character of the qualification stage, the 27-year-old was rewarded with an computerized entry into the finals as a number of of the self-discipline’s largest names crashed out.
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Kennedy and the US’ Katie Moon, the 2 girls who shared gold following a thriller ultimate on the Budapest World Championships final yr, will face off as soon as once more.
However this time, Kennedy is not feeling as charitable as she was on the World Championships.
Nina Kennedy in motion throughout the qualification spherical of the ladies’s Paris 2024 pole vault. Michael Steele/Getty Photos
Kennedy is amongst 11 athletes who tied for the highest spot within the marathon affair ultimate, which can see 20 pole vaulting star’s compete for one of many three medals up for grabs.
“She cleared that by a rustic mile within the qualifying,” Nova Peris stated on Stan Sport’s Olympics Day by day.
“Out of all of the observe and area occasions, that is one thing that you would be able to critically injure your self in. It is a kind of sports activities that on the day it’s a must to be mentally targeted and I see that in Nina’s face.
“She shared the world championships gold final yr with Katie Moon of the USA, however she’s additionally stated if the possibility is there she will not be sharing it once more.
“We noticed the mishap of the Nice Britain Molly Caudery, who determined to not take the prelims that critically and declined. She was a world chief going into it and Nice Britain’s hopes had been completely shattered there.
“She talked about how ‘I may do that in coaching’ but it surely’s not coaching, it is the Olympic Video games.”
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Matthew Denny competes throughout the Males’s Discus Throw Qualification. Getty
After lacking bronze in Tokyo by lower than 5 centimetres, Denny has firmed as one of many strongest medal hopes in Paris as he seems to be to crack the rostrum.
The Australian discus champion broke the nationwide report on the championships in April to supply a private greatest throw of 69.35 metres.
With Lithuanian world report holder Mykolas Alekna advancing by to the finals with ease, the duty forward of Denny seems to be promising to assert the silver medal.
“It will be onerous for him to win gold however positively silver and bronze are there for the taking,” Peris stated.
“To even take into account gold, Matt’s bought to seek out 5 metres for a private greatest.
“He is come to Paris in nice type. He is ranked third on the planet and on his second throw he mechanically certified.
“Followers at residence in Australia are hoping he can rise up there and enhance on his Tokyo and World Champs outcomes, the place he completed respectively fourth in each.”
However as famous by Peris “something can occur within the Olympic Video games,” which means the Aussie’s probabilities of taking residence the gold will not be utterly out of the query.
Denny will face his medal probability at 4:45 am (AEST) on Thursday, whereas Kennedy seems to be for gold from 3 am.
