Cameron McEntyre

BIOGRAPHY

An enormous talent in his youth, Cameron McEntyre, now 25, has been making significant progress in the javelin over the last could of years. Coached by his older brother Angus, he won the 2022 National title and entered the top-10 Australian all-time. He has been on three National teams since – two world championships and the Commonwealth Games and is now set to make his Olympic debut in Paris.

His early 2024 campaign has been his strong yet. After winning Nationals in April, he just missed his PB with a throw of 81.56 in the US in May. Then in May in Tokyo he won the Seiko Golden Grand Prix in a PB throw of 82.01m, ahead of a second place in the Oceania championships.
 
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Cameron McEntyre’s start in athletics was when he was aged 4 at Ku-ring-gai Little Athletics. “Both my brothers were involved competing every Saturday morning, so I thought I’d tag along. I remember initially I wasn’t too crazed about it.” 
He started to enjoy the sport more when in the U7s he was doing proper events. It would still be many years before he commenced his javelin journey.
“It wasn’t until high school where I first picked up a javelin at the school carnival and threw 27m. Then it really took off.”
Attending Knox Grammar School, he played rugby union, a school with a rich rugby culture.

Cameron was turning heads shortly before his 16th birthday, in February 2015, when he managed a 71 metre throw (700g implement). The following month he continued this momentum throwing over 73 metres and was then selected to make his Australian debut at the World Youth (U18) Championships. This was however a challenging competition as he fouled the first two throws in the qualifying round and didn’t progress to the final.

He would then progress to the senior implement (800g) and after consistent throws of 70 metres, he would progress to 74 metres in April 2019, and later 78 metres when aged 20. His momentum was halted in early 2020, as COVID shut down the season. 

In pursuit of his Olympic debut over the summer of 2020/21, Cameron would enjoy a return to form with a PB 81.51m in October, then 80.83m in December. He was now the 11th best Australian all-time. But limited competitions over summer would slow his progress.
“I started the qualifying period perfectly with two 80m throws under the belt. Unfortunately, over time the competitions were slowly taken away. I found the stress of limited opportunities to perform consistently a huge mental battle and unfortunately one I lost. However, a perfect silver lining with plenty of lessons learnt and an abundant of motivation for redemption.”
Cameron managed a couple of 76 metres throws and placed third at Nationals.

Determined to rebound in 2022, he opened the season with a throw of 79.67m in Canberra in January. He rolled on from there with a series of solid throws followed by the National title in April. Later in the month he took a brief trip to American, to compete at Hayward Field, the future venue for the World Championships, and was rewarded with a PB 81.96m, moving him to number 9 Australian All-time. Second at Oceania Championships in June, he had sufficient points to qualify for the World Championships and he was also named in the Commonwealth Games team.

In Eugene he threw 77.50m in the qualifying rounds, then two weeks later at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games progressed to 79.89m.

Domestically in 2023 he opened the season with a throw of 80.32m. At Nationals he was second and in August named in his second world championships team. In preparation for Budapest, while in Europe he was in good shape throwing 79.57m, then 81.41m on August 6 - the third longest throw of his career. He threw a solid 78.10m in the qualifying rounds in Budapest.

In 2022 Cameron spoke about why he considers he has progressed over the last couple of years. 
“Angus (his coach) and I have been working on throwing at higher volumes with intensity. This creates the opportunity to iron out some technical flaws that become exposed at higher intensity throws during competitions. Still plenty more work to do!”

Athletes he admires: Sonny Bill Williams is someone who I have derived training and recovery habits from. Two javelin throwers I look up to as technical models are Andreas Thorkildsen and Steve Backley. Jan Zelenzy also cannot be overlooked…Biggest influence: Family. The continual support is second to none…Advice to your young self: Pay for golf lessons…Hobbies: golf and gaming…Sporting ambition: Become an Olympian and reach my absolute potential…Education: Graduated from Macquarie University in 2021 with a Bachelor of Human Sciences, Major in Human Movement …Interesting facts: “I used to lie answering these questions at university during icebreakers. I’d say I’m either British or that I am related to Hugh Jackman. Did the job at breaking the ice.”...Enjoyment of competing: Every competition brings something different to the table. Different conditions, different series of throws, different competitors. Always a test of physical and mental capacities. 

@ 10 June 2024 david.tarbotton@athletics.org.au