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BIOGRAPHY |
At her last four major championships - Commonwealths, Olympics and two World Championships, javelin thrower Kelsey-Lee Barber has a stunning record of winiing three gold and a bronze medal.
A trademark of Kelsey-Lee has been her clutch throws - performing when it counts. At the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, she moved from third to second in the last round, then in the last round at the 2019 world championships, she promoted herself from fourth to world champion. At the Tokyo Olympics, her campaign looked over after two throws in the qualifying round, but she rallied with a big effort in round three and progressing to the final where she won bronze – Australia’s second Olympic medal in the event. In 2022 she broke that theme at the world championships, but it was back at the Commonwealth Games.
At the World Championships in 2022, after a consistent series of 60/61m throws in the qualifying round, in the final Kelsey-Lee was on the mark from the first round, reaching 62.67m. However teammate Mackenzie Little blasted a PB in round one to lead the competition until round three when Kelsey-Lee launched a 66.91m effort that would hold up for gold and a 2.86m winning margin – the largest for nearly two decades. She became the first athlete to ever defend this title and just the third Australian to defend a global meet title (Worlds or Olympics), following Cathy Freeman in 1999 (World 400m) and Shirley Strickland in 1956 (Olympic 80m hurdles).
Two weeks later at the Commonwealth Games, Kelsey-Lee needed to rely again on her clutch throwing prowess. Again, teammate Mackenzie Little would challenge her, leading the competition for the first five rounds with two PBs 64.03m, then 64.27m. But on her last effort, Kelsey-Lee was too good again, throwing 64.43m and taking gold by just 16cm as Australian went 1-2 in the event.
In 2023, Kelsey-Lee Barber competed at her fifth world championship in Budapest and on her 10th Australian team. She was unable to achieve an extraordinary piece of history and win a third consecutive world title. She maintained her consistent 60 metre level during the year, throwing 61.19m in the final to placed seventh. In the last round she suffered a small calf tear and decided to finish her season there.
She competed in the two major domestic competitions in 2024, Melbourne (7th 54.59m) and Nationals (3rd 55.13m). In June Kelsey posted about her ongoing battle to get to the Paris Olympics. She has been battling an elbow issue.
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Kelsey-Lee Barber dreamed of being an Olympian at a young age and competed in athletics throughout high school. After moving to Canberra in 2007 she took athletics more seriously and soon had a throws coach before making her mark in open division a few years after finishing high school. “My javelin really took off in 2008 when I won the Pacific School Games in Canberra. It was after winning this that I knew it was javelin that I wanted to pursue to the highest level, the Olympics.”
She made a breakthrough in 2013, adding six metres to her personal best and reaching 58.58m. The next year she made her international debut at the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games winning a bronze medal. Injuries in 2015 and 2016 (back stress fracture) hampered her 2015 World Championships and 2016 Olympics campaigns where she didn’t progress to the final. In 2017, she won her first Australian title and then in Europe improved her PB on a few occasions placing 10th in the final at the London World Championships.
In 2018 she set a PB of 64.57m at the Commonwealth Games trials and then at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games moved from third to second on the last throw.
In June and July 2019 she made a massive breakthrough with fourth throws over 65 metres in four weeks including 67.70m in Luzern which moved her to number two in the world for the year, number two Australian all-time and number 12 in history. At the World championships she was in fourth at the start of the last round, but raised an effort to take the world title with a throw of 66.56m.
She didn’t compete in 2020, due to COVID. Her 2021 form was patchy and, in the Tokyo, Olympic qualifying round, she was looking at missing the final after two sub-par throws in the qualifying round, but on her third and last attempt she managed a seasons best of 62.59m to progress to the final where she started strongly. In a close competition, where a metre separated second to fifth, she placed third with her 64.56m effort.
Nickname: Kels…Education: Sport Coaching and Exercise Science at University of Canberra (2010-2014)…Hobbies: Cooking and outdoor activities - hiking, rock climbing, snowboarding…Memorable sporting moment: My Tokyo Olympic bronze medal will always be a cherished memory...Influential person: “My parents have always played a big part in allowing me to pursue my sport, but mum has been especially influential. From an early age she always encouraged me to believe in my dreams and go after them. I’m so thankful for her support day in and day out.”…Advice to your young self: “Take a moment to enjoy and appreciate the good times/special moments in your sporting journey.” Famous relative: Uncle, Tom Murtagh - part of the special effects crew that worked on the Bond Films…Other sports: U19 Nationals for ACT Netball…Interesting facts: Moved to Australia age 9 from South Africa.
@ 30 June 2024 david.tarbotton@athletics.org.au