Taryn Gollshewsky

BIOGRAPHY

After a decade on the National team including three Commonwealth Games, and two world championships and World University Games, Bundaberg’s Taryn Gollshewsky makes her Olympic debut in Paris. It has been a challenging journey for Taryn, who broke her leg in 2021. After graduating from school, she resisted moving away from her regional home where she had grown-up and where her family and support network were based.
“My training environment was not of an elite standard, but I persevered and pursued my dream whilst living and training in Bundaberg.”

Taryn Gollshewsky started her journey in athletics at the very young age of eight at her local Litle Athletics club. She also played many sports including cricket, volleyball, futsal, soccer, swimming, surf life saving, tennis and dancing. One of these sports particularly helped her event selection in athletics. “Throughout my childhood my time spent dancing (particularly pirouetting) enabled me to pick up the discus turn quickly, and I took a likening to the throwing event.”

Aged 16, Taryn first wore the green and gold at the 2009 World Youth Championships, placing 12th. One year on, she was off to the 2010 World Junior Championships where she competed in the qualifying rounds. At 17, she graduated from high school . “I was presented with many opportunities to move away from my hometown of Bundaberg. However, my family and coach lived in Bundaberg and with their support I had already become Australian champion, so I made the decision to stay.”

After missing selection for the 2012 World Juniors, she made her senior Australian debut at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games. Getting onto the team as a 56-metre thrower, she was brilliant in the qualifying rounds nailing a large PB of 58.24m and placing ninth in the final. A regular on the National team over the next few years, she claimed a bronze medal at the 2017 World University Games. At the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in her home State, she was fifth. Then came the pandemic.

In April 2021, Taryn nailed a personal best of 61.05m at the National championships, placing the Tokyo Olympics within her reach, but a month later her Olympic dream was over when in June playing soccer she suffered a potentially career ending broken leg.
"I was bed ridden for two-and-a-half weeks and then I was on crutches for about eight weeks," Taryn said. 
"I spent six months rebuilding, so I wasn't actually allowed to throw until the eight-month mark.”
After just 10 weeks of training she won the 2022 National title, was selected for her third Commonwealth Games, going on to place fourth, just 14cm from the podium.

In 2023 she completed at her second world championships and following her Olympic dream in 2024 she threw right up to her best form at the Australian Championships and Oceania Championships to put herself in a good position to secure her Olympic debut in Paris.

Taryn’s challenging journey has assisted her in her teaching.
“Many students give up easily if something is difficult, so I talk to my students about practicing and
training and how repetition is required to achieve a goal.
“It’s wonderful to see when their hard work is rewarded,
“I love the role I play in my students’ lives and helping them to become the best people they can be,”
Taryn said.

Occupation: Physical Education teacher at St Patrick’s Catholic Primary School, Bundaberg…Daily Training schedule: 4.30m gym, after work training…2021 Injury: Fractured my Tibia and Fibula, snapping both bones in half. I had an Intramedullary Surgical Fixation of my left tibia, meaning a nail was inserted into the shaft of my shin and goes the entire length of my shin bone. I was sidelined for 8.5 months….Hobbies: kitesurfing, surfing, stand-up paddleboarding, snorkelling, anything involving the beach…Advice to your younger self: Self-belief is one of the greatest attributes of a champion. Not to be confused with arrogance, self-belief is quiet confidence. Believing in yourself is half the battle.

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