#Glasgow2014: Mickle Wins Commonwealth Games Title
Western Australian Institute of Sport javelin thrower Kim Mickle has won gold at the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games with a second round throw of 65.96m.
Mickle won gold with a new Commonwealth Games record, after launching her second round throw 65.96m for first place following an opening round of 62.97m.
Glasgow was Mickle’s third Commonwealth Games campaign, after finishing fourth in Melbourne 2006 and second in Delhi four years, and her success in Scotland, comes after a breakthrough performance at last year’s 2013 World Championships where a silver medal in Moscow saw her become one of Australia’s most recognisable track and field stars.
Mickle followed her Commonwealth record with a throw of 61.45m in the third round before three consecutive fouls closed out the 29 year-olds’ six round final.
“I’ve dreamed of this moment – well literally I’ve visualized it – for the last month,” said a delighted Mickle after the medal ceremony. “Every single night I’ve pictured myself on top of the dais. So I was just saying before I hope I don’t wake up in ten minutes … and it was another dream.
“It was the way I scripted it in my head, though for it to actually happen the way I felt it should of is pretty sweet.”
When asked about her first record-breaking throws Mickle said “That was a case of ‘make sure you get one out’ and nice and comfortable. The second one, once I knew that (first one) was out, that’s when I unleashed.”
Mickle’s victory was all the more remarkable because she had been carrying a painful ‘turf-toe’ injury during the competition.
“I unfortunately hurt it about four days ago pretty badly and I was trying and trying and trying … because obviously a toe, it kind of sounds a bit pathetic, but it was my turning pivot foot and it’s really sore so unfortunately I had to put a bit of local aesthetic in their just to numb it up and now it’s run out and I’m in immense pain. But it’s all worth it. Like I say, it’s only a toe. I’ve got nine other toes.”
2010 Commonwealth Champion, Sunette Viljoen finished second with a final round throw of 63.19m with bronze going to Mickle’s Australian teammate Kelsey-Lee Roberts, who threw 62.95m.
Mickle had entered competition as the gold medal favourite, attention she had worn comfortably after a remarkable 2013 campaign that saw her medal at every competition she entered, a stretch that now sees her as a World and Commonwealth Games medallist.
She becomes WA’s fourth gold medallist from these Games, but without question the highest profile, after being the face of much of the state’s expectation leading in to competition.
Having broken the Australian national record earlier in the year, she can now add Commonwealth Champion and record holder to that ever growing list of achievements.