Australian Paralympic silver medallist Kath Proudfoot is on track for Paralympic glory, after throwing a discus world record at the Hunter Track Classic on the weekend.

Proudfoot, who is from Newcastle but currently lives and trains in Canberra, believes she is in the best form of her life after throwing a yet to be ratified world record of 26.81m, furthering the current world mark by 1.1m.

Competing in a combined event alongside able-bodied athletes Dani Samuels and Benn Harradine, the 34-year-old athlete with cerebral palsy, is shaping as a medal contender for the F36 throwing events at this year’s Paralympics.

“I unofficially already broke the record so it’s nice to be able to throw the same sort of distance a second time,” said Proudfoot.

“Training has been going good, it’s been good being at the AIS facilities in Canberra. We’ve moved from two years ago a standing throw to full rotational now. I’m essentially reaping the benefits from two years of training.”

Proudfoot was the first athlete discovered through the Australian Paralympic Committee’s Paralympic Talent Search Program when it began in 2005.

Having seen a Paralympic talent search day flyer at her local gym in Newcastle, she was encouraged to participate and showed immediate potential. Three years later, she was one of 27 athletes discovered through the APC Paralympic Talent Search Program to earn selection to the Beijing Paralympic Games and added a valuable silver to Australia’s medal tally.

Now, with another three and a half years of training since her Paralympic debut, Proudfoot is confident in her preparation.

“For me it’s nice to have this record personally as it builds confidence. Hopefully it will also give other competitors something to think about in the lead up to the Paralympics.

“For me being able to consistently throw that [distance] has more importance than having the record itself. It gives you the confidence to know that you can step into the circle and do that again.”

Proudfoot’s unofficial world record follows on from cerebral palsy sprinter Evan O’Hanlon’s blistering unofficial world record of 10.91 over 100m at last week’s Brisbane Track Classic.

By Rebekka Wake
Posted 23/01/2012