Adapt and Deliver | Hamilton Spearheads Rising Stars in Paralympic Year

On a rich roster of Australian Paralympic prospects, few are having a better year than Jackson Hamilton. Bound for next week’s Chemist Warehouse Australian Athletics Championships, the vision impaired javelin thrower operates on feeling – unable to see metres ahead of him but crystal clear on his vision for Paris.

With the Paralympic A qualifying standard set at 62.70m in the Javelin F13, the 20-year-old opened his 2024 campaign in style with 62.50m and 62.43m performances to place himself within reach of a dream Paralympic debut.

Hamilton then let loose on a 68.43m throw in February to shift his attitude from being a contender for the team to a contender for the medals in Paris this August:

“To be honest, as soon as I did the throw, I wasn’t actually sure if it was good or bad because it was such a new feeling. It felt really different and obviously I can’t see where it landed, I just knew I had never felt that before. I couldn’t really believe it when they called out the result,” Hamilton said.

“I definitely have the goal of winning a medal in Paris, I think I’m more than capable of doing it. I don’t want to overthink it or put too much pressure on myself, but as long as I go out there and do what I’m capable of – I will put myself in a good position.”

Totally blind in his left eye and legally blind in his right, the Perth product has developed world-class athletic credentials through teaching his body movements by feeling and awareness, relying on intrinsic feedback and coach Morgan Ward to fine tune his craft.

“It’s such an intrinsic feeling during throwing. You rock up to a session, you warm up and you just kind of know – you have that sense. A good session for me is natural, smooth and fluid,” Hamilton said.

Making his senior Australian debut at the 2023 World Para Athletics Championships in Paris, Hamilton finished in seventh place with 58.41m, frustratingly short of the 59.79m distance required for bronze, but is now buoyed by his 68.43m personal best ahead of his return to Paris.

“Last year was a massive learning experience for me, just being under the bright lights of my first international competition. I feel like now when I go into the same environment, I will be more level-headed and able to control my nerves and emotions because I have been there before,” Hamilton said.

“Every competition that I do, whether it’s Nationals or a local one, I’m always trying to get into that zone like it’s Paris. Nationals is a good chance for me to treat it like that and get some good performances on the board in other stadiums. Building that confidence in different environments is the next step for me.”

At 196cm and wearing size 13 spikes, Hamilton will arrive in Adelaide for the Chemist Warehouse Australian Championships before jetting off to the 2024 World Para Athletics Championships in Kobe, Japan in May.

“Kobe is pretty similar, it’s not as big as the Paralmypic Games but all the top throwers and medallists are going, so for me it’s a good chance to make a bit of a statement,” Hamilton said.

The Western Australian is one of many rising stars making an impact on the Australian Para athletics scene, with fellow emerging talents Mali Lovell, Samuel Rizzo, Abby Craswell and Annabelle Colman just a handful of names eyeing Paralympic debuts in 2024.

“It’s definitely a goal of mine to be a role model for the next generation, that was me when I was younger and even now. I hope I can become a new familiar face for young people and inspire athletes to give it a go and chase their dreams,” Hamilton said.

Hamilton will contest the Men’s Javelin Throw Ambulant on Friday the 12^th of April, with the entry lists and timetable available HERE or via Roster Athletics, and tickets available HERE.

By Lachlan Moorhouse, Athletics Australia
Posted: 4/1/2024