Mali Lovell

EVENTS:  T36 100m, 200m

AGE:  20 (DOB  3 Jun 2004)

COACHES:  Katie Edwards & Melinda Gainsford-Taylor

STATE: NSW

AUSTRALIAN TEAM DEBUT: 2023 World Para Athletics Championships

PERSONAL BESTS: 100m 14.68 (26 Jan 2024), 200m 29.67 (14 Apr 2024)

BIOGRAPHY

Mali Lovell joined Katie Edwards and Melinda Gainsford-Taylor's squad six years ago and started her serious journey in athletics. Mali recalled:

“I started athletics at the age of 12 (in Year 6) with the encouragement of my friend Olivia Inkster and her family - they had seen para-athletes at athletics meets and encouraged me to have a go. We also played in a soccer team together with Gabi Taylor and from there I met her mum Mel Gainsford-Taylor and Katie Edwards and their awesome squad.”

At 17, she was close to qualifying for the Tokyo Paralympics held in 2021, and has over the last two years made significant progress under coaches Katie Edwards and Melinda Gainsford-Taylor, however, she didn’t want to get ahead of herself.

“I only dared to think about the world championships once I had my first A qualifier at the ACT Champs in January 2023 and then followed with another at the NSW Championships.”

In addition to her training with coaches Katie and Mel, Mali regards her strength and conditioning program with Billy Macklin at NSWIS as key to her progress in the last year or so.

Aged 19, she make her Australian team debut at the 2023 Paris World Para Athletics Championships, where she competed in the T36 100m and 200m.  Gathering experience as she progressed, Mali placed seventh in the T36 100m, then surprised with silver in the 200m clocking 30.19.

Domestically in 2024, Mali continued to progress dipping under 30 seconds in the 200m reaching a PB of 29.67 at the Australian Championships in April. She also smashed her 100m best, now down to 14.68. In May she competed at her second world championships, in Kobe Japan, winning the 200m bronze medal in a time of 29.81 seconds. She had just missed the Tokyo Paralympic Games team, but three years on, and still only 20, Mali will make that long awaited debut in Paris, competing in the T36 100m and 200m.  

Most influential person in her career: Katie Edwards - she has been with me from the start and truly knows what makes me tick and how to get the best out of me. Also, of course, Mel GT - having her support and her experience and knowledge is amazing. Also our whole training crew is just so special. Advice to your young self: Hard work pays off…Hobbies: volunteering with the Sporting Team at the Cerebral Palsy Alliance…Sporting ambition: To represent Australia at the Paralympics and make the podium…Occupation: Athlete; currently having a gap year so I can focus completely on athletics. She graduated from Mackellar Girls High in 2022…Other sports played at a high level: Football/Soccer - I was involved in CP soccer before athletics took over…Interesting facts: I used to use sign language to communicate when I was younger…Biggest challenge faced: I think anyone born with a disability would agree, that is the biggest challenge…What do you like about competing: Challenging myself to see how fast I can go and pushing myself to my limits. Impairment: ataxia, a rare type of cerebral palsy that affects balance and coordination…

@ 23 August 2024 david.tarbotton@athletics.org.au