Australia’s Kelsey-Lee Barber was in tears after claiming a bronze medal in the women’s javelin at the Tokyo Olympics, capping a remarkable comeback for the 2019 world champion.
Barber threw a season-best 64.56m, just five centimetres short of the silver medallist, Maria Andrejczyk of Poland, who threw 64.61m.
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China’s Liu Shiying won gold, taking the lead with her first throw of 66.34m, a mark that wasn’t beaten throughout the remainder of the competition.
Barber broke down immediately after clinching the bronze, hugging her husband and coach, Mike.
Making her achievement all the more special, Barber has struggled with a case of the ‘yips’ all season, where throwing the javelin any sort of competitive distance appeared just about impossible.
“There were moments this year where Mike and I were sitting and I was crying,” Barber said.
“I wasn’t sure if I was going to make it here, let alone think I was going to medal … I didn’t want to give it up and I didn’t want to stop fighting for it.”
Barber came so close to being eliminated in the qualifying rounds, only making it through to the final with her last throw. She said afterwards that her preparation had been awful, both mentally and physically.
“This year has challenged me in so many ways, I worked hard for it and we found a way,” she said.
“Tonight it was about the win, I wanted the gold medal, I wanted to walk away an Olympic champion.
“It was like every throw was my last throw, because I know I can do something special.
“I’m just so proud of what I achieved tonight.”
Barber came agonisingly close to stealing the silver with her final throw, improving from 64.04m to 64.56m.
All three Australians made it through to the last eight, the first time that’s happened in either the men’s or women’s javelin.
Apart from Barber, Kathryn Mitchell finished sixth with a throw of 61.82m, while Mackenzie Little was eighth with a distance of 59.96m.
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