SOUTHEND shot-putter Robin Womack has vowed to use his Beijing heartache as a catalyst for IPC World Championship gold in New Zealand.
Womack, missed out on selection for the 2008 Paralympics after failing to throw the ‘A’s standard of 10.60m in the build-up to the Games and subsequently was left out of the Team GB squad.
But rather then feeling sorry for himself, Womack has since gone from strength-to-strength forcing his way back in to the Aviva GB & NI team and registering a personal best throw of 10.87m.
And now the 39-year-old insists he is ready to underline his quality by playing a starring role when the shot put action gets underway at the Queen Elizabeth II Stadium in Christchurch today.
“Missing Beijing hurt, but it has made me very determined to prove I am a top-class athlete,” said Womack — who fine-tuned his preparations for the championships at a warm-weather Aviva-funded preparation camp in Auckland, New Zealand.
“It has spurred me on and will continue to do so at the World Championships. “The bottom line is I didn’t get the qualifying standard and that’s the rule.
“But I am a different athlete now, I’ve changed gym, I don’t drink, I don’t eat white bread and I don’t have any caffeine. “I train out of my wheelchair as much as possible, and I am strong and flexible so bring it on.
“I’ve got three throws when I get out there and I don’t intend to go home disappointed.
“My PB is 10.87 but I am aiming to better that to around 11.50 and that should challenge for a medal.
“That is the target but I know anything can happen on the day.”
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