News & Updates

Being in “a happy place” in training has proved the perfect recipe for Jacko Gill as he looks to take on long-standing rival Tom Walsh in their eagerly anticipated re-match at the Sir Graeme Douglas International presented by Harcourts Cooper & Co in Auckland on 16 March.

Over the past 12 months, Jacko has been in the best form of his life. Last year he set a a PB of 21.90 when winning a Commonwealth Games silver medal in Birmingham and earlier this month on his seasonal debut he ended the 13-year reign of Tom Walsh as national shot champion when tossing a huge 21.80m effort at the Jennian Homes New Zealand Track & Field Championships in Wellington.

The performance acted as a huge confidence boost for the 28-year-old Aucklander, who was elated to finally join his dad, Walter, and mum, Nerida, as a national champion.

“It feel amazing, I’m really stoked to win with my family here as well,” said Jacko of dad, Walter, the 1987 and 1989 national shot put champion and mum, Nerida, the 1990 New Zealand discus gold medallist. “A lot of things have gone wrong over the past 15 years so to reach this high level, and to do so with great people around me, I couldn’t be happier.”

“To win the New Zealand title is right up there (as one of my biggest accomplishments), I’ve had a lot of nationals where I have come second or been out, so I’m happy to beat Tom. He is world-class, as good as it gets and I have a lot of respect for him. I am honoured to beat him.”

“Winning the New Zealand Champs is huge. My mum and dad have won one before, so it is really cool to finally be in the same conservation.”

Jacko has battled adductor and hamstring injuries this season, so for the former World U18 and U20 champion to emerge and produce such an impressive performance in his first competition of the season bodes well for the future.

Coached remotely by Australian-based Dale Stevenson, former coach to Tom Walsh, the combination has worked well with mum and dad on the ground overseeing many of his day-to-day sessions in Auckland. The recipe has contributed to the top four performances of his career over the past nine months and the recently minted New Zealand champion has some interesting theories on why.

“I’ve placed a lot of emphasis on technique rather than pushing the weights,” he said. “In the past I’ve had a lot of injuries, so we’ve shifted away from that, and we now work on positions. I guess I’m getting old now, so we are doing things in a smarter way and I’m really happy with that approach.”

Gill also had another theory as to why he is throwing so far – his family.

“I think it is because I’m working with people I really enjoy being around. I really enjoying training five days a week, I’m throwing with my mum and a couple of times a week my dad, I just love it. To go out there with people I love means everything. It has been hard mentally, I’ve had some heart issues, it has been really bumpy road, but I’m really enjoying it now. I can’t be too sad when I’m out there training with my family.”

For the Sir Graeme Douglas International he has some simple goals.

“I just want to get back to training and hopefully it will confirm what we have been doing is working,” he said.

***Watch Jacko Gill take on Tom Walsh at the Sir Graeme Douglas International presented by Harcourts Cooper & Co from 6.15pm on Thursday 16 March. More here