Fun and Games for Birmingham aspirants

The countdown is once again on for many of New Zealand’s top athletes.

Tuesday marked 100 days until the 2022 Commonwealth Games got underway in the English city of Birmingham.

So, before the serious work of preparing to get on the podium begun, a group of athletes came together for fun and Games of a different kind.

For Olympic medal-winning triathlete Hayden Wilde, the milestone was a reminder of just how close Birmingham was becoming.

“It’s crept around very quickly.

“I remember 100 days before Tokyo and it felt a long, long way away but it comes up very quickly.”

Most athletes who took part in the so-called “Un-Commonwealth Games” event were still awaiting official selection.

One assured of being there, though, was hammer thrower Julia Ratcliffe.

Never short of a smile, the gold medallist from the Gold Coast said defending her title wasn’t the only reason she was excited.

“It’s got a much friendlier vibe than some of the bigger competitions.

“We’re still out to get each other, we’re still out to win but that Commonwealth vibe is really special.”

The Commonwealth Games also differ from the Olympics in that para sports athletes competing alongside their able-bodied counterparts.

Swimmer Tupou Neiufi, who won gold at last year’s Tokyo Paralympics, said that allowed para athletes to showcase their abilities on a different platform.

Photo: PHOTOSPORT

The 20-year-old said it also allowed them to strike up friendships, which she did with weightlifter David Liti on the Gold Coast in 2018.

“He actually took me under his wing and we hung out a few times. He was really awesome.

“Being able to see them and hang out with them makes it so much nicer when we come to the gym back at home. We see each other and say hi, stuff like that, it’s cool.”

Those trips to the gym would now start to ramp up.

With just 100 days to go, Neiufi knew every week would count.

For others, whose selection for the Games was not so certain, the drive would be different but equally strong.

The message to those athletes from Tuesday’s special guest judge, recently retired shot put star Dame Valeire Adams, don’t stop pushing.

“Keep working, stick to your knitting and don’t lose hope.

“You’ve still got 100 days. There’s a few evenst coming up for a lot of these athletes, so they know what they’ve got to do. They know what it takes.

“We’ll be all watching and waiting with hope and luck.”

The Birmingham Commonwealth Games were set to kick off on July 28.

-RNZ