Robinson 'stoked' about Games spot

Holly Robinson
Holly Robinson
There are not many top competitions Holly Robinson has not been to, but next year will offer something new.

The 22-year-old Taieri para-athlete was yesterday selected to compete in the F46 javelin at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, to be held on Australia's Gold Coast.

Having won silver at last year's Paralympics, as well as bagging two silvers and a bronze at the past three world championships, Robinson has had plenty of success on the big stage.

However, it was set to be her first Commonwealth Games and she was excited by the opportunity to compete at the event.

''As a para-athlete we only get selected events at each Commonwealth Games, so you're very lucky if your event is actually chosen as one of the events featured.

''I was pretty stoked to hear the news when my event was selected as one of those events at my first Commonwealth Games. It'll be very cool.''

While she had met the qualifying standards, she had been ''stoked'' to get confirmation of her selection.

Her training had been going well, although she had not been competing as she looked to settle an achilles niggle.

That had been giving her trouble for much of the past year, although she was pleased with how it was progressing.

She hoped to be back competing in early December and from then planned to compete every weekend through to the Games.

That will see her take on a busy schedule, with trips to the North Island and Australia - including one to Perth - on the agenda.

Unlike the world championships and Olympics, in the Commonwealth Games the para-events are integrated into the main competition.

That was something Robinson calls ''really cool'' as para-sport continues to grow.

''It's not often that an event as high up as the Commonwealth Games is integrated - world champs and Paralympics aren't.

''But having an event like the Commonwealth Games where we get to train, stay and compete with able-bodied athletes is really positive for our sport.

''It gives us the opportunity to show the people of New Zealand again what para-athletes are capable of and also influence those younger athletes coming through.

''I think it's a real positive thing having that integration.

''I'm really looking forward to getting to know the other athletes that I haven't been able to meet yet.''

The Games on the Gold Coast will run from April 4-15.

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