ATHLETICS: When Jared Tallent receives his London 2012 gold medal at a ceremony in Melbourne this Friday, Australia’s next generation of racewalkers will be watching on.

Jemma Peart, 14, will present the flowers as part of the ceremony, while 18-year-old Adam Garganis will have the honour of handing the Olympic Champion his medal.

They will take part in the presentation in front of thousands of Australians who will line the streets at Treasury Steps at midday to watch 31-year-old Tallent stand on the podium. He was elevated to gold for 50km walk at London 2012 after Russian Sergey Kirdyapkin was stripped of his medal for doping by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) last March.

For Ballarat’s Peart the medal presentation will be extra special with her idol Tallent, having grown up in her home town with his five siblings.

The youngster has been competing in racewalking for more than five years alongside her two younger siblings and in March finished third in the under 18 5km event at the Australian Junior Track and Field Championships in Perth.

She hopes one day to be as successful as the triple medallist on his way to a third Games.

“It’s great being around an Olympian like Jared, it makes it seem more achievable,” she said.

“He has proven with hard work and dedication you can achieve anything.”

The year nine student at Ballarat High School said Tallent’s talent has done wonders for the recognition of racewalking.

“He’s made the sport well recognised in Ballarat and worldwide.

“Jared is so generous with his time, he comes and trains with the juniors in Ballarat when he visits and he’s brought the medals for us to hold.”

Peart will travel down to Melbourne on Friday morning with her mum, dad, sister and brother for the day to share an amazing moment with a home-grown champion. 

ANNIE KEARNEY
olympics.com.au