Hodgetts Wins Gold With World Record
08 Sep 2012
Launceston's Todd Hodgetts lived a boyhood dream in London overnight, when he twice set a world record to win gold in the shot put at the Paralympics.
The 24 year old set his first world mark of 16.24m in round four, before improving to 16.29m in the final round to take victory by almost a metre.
"It was awesome mate, I just won the gold medal," an excited Hodgetts said.
"It is the best day of my life, its just like a hollywood movie. I went through a storm, everyone was against me and now I've come out the champion," the TIS scholarship holder said.
Hodgetts was competing in the F20 class, for athletes with an intellectual disability. Having been a national level shot putter and state champion for many years, Hodgetts classification earlier this year to the F20 class has allowed the qualified fitness instructor to live out his dreams in London.
It didn't start off all smoothly, as he was in second place after 3 rounds, before making his charge home.
"I started off just missing them and I was in second place in the third round and these guys were going off," the former Powerlifter said.
"Then I outdid these fella's because the 80,000 poms were behind me. I smashed it and showed them how fit I was and why I am the world record holder," Hodgetts added.
Hodgetts officially won the competition with 16.29m, from Sweden's Geoffrey Ige and Malaysia's Muhammad Ziyad Zolkefli.
"Seeing your flag up on a pole and the Australian anthem is a thing that is priceless. It's been a very hard road and it was a hard competition and I had to show them what Tasmanian's were made of.
"I'd like to thank my coach John Minns, Athletics Tasmania, Athletics Australia, Tasmanian Institute of Sport, my manager Rob Fairs, Greg Crick Motors, Doug Ginnern Insurance, Newstead Harriers, Jones Enviroservices and Rob Shirade," Hodgetts said after doing a lap of honour with an Australian flag provided by the Launceston City Council.
After a long campaign, Hodgetts will return to Australia with the rest of the Paralympic team and will return to Tasmania shortly after returning to Australia.