Records the Ideal Motivation
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
It is often said that the mark of champions doesn’t lie in their reaction to success but rather to failure. Everyone can handle a good result – that is the easy bit - but few can deal with a bad one or, worse, a series of setbacks. Which can be a problem because, regadless of how talented or gifted, a day will come when something crops to test not only one’s physical capabilities but also their inner resolve.
For Antonella Chouhal, that day came back in 2001 when, having achieved the qualification mark for the place Small Nations’ Games, her dreams were shattered once it emerged that her event – the shot put – wasn’t going to be held as not enough athletes had qualifed to take part.
“It was a huge disappointment and it felt as if the whole world was caving in,” she says, recalling the experience. “Looking back, however, it did me good because it spurred me on. I switched from the shot put and started focusing on the discus throw, an event at which I’m being much more successful.”
And how she has been successful. Last year she broke the national record that had stood for the previous twenty-five years and anyone who witnessed that 40.75m record breaking throw will surely recall Antonella’s celebrations upon setting the new mark. “It was very emotional because the previous record had stood for twenty five years. I’d come close on a number of occasions but always seemed to fall short by a couple of centimeters.”
This year, she has twice bettered the national record that now stands at 42.2m. “It was something that I expected,” she admits candidly. “That said, it is still off the target that I’ve set myself for this year. I want a throw of 45 metres so there is still some way to go.”
Even that is what Antonella terms as the “starting point”.
“When I talk to foreign athletes they’re all of the opinion that considering my strength I should be able to throw up to fifty five metres. That has to be my objective.”
In order to do so, she is training hard – her current routine includes two hours every day for six days during the week – which isn’t easy for a working mother of two. “I’m lucky in that I have a very supportive family,” she emphasises.
Yet a tight schedule is the least of her difficulties. As with so many other local athletes, Antonella cites the lack of competition as her biggest challenge.
“It is really difficult to motivate yourself. You know you’re going to win regardless of whether you have a good throw or not. It is a constant challenge to try to do your utmost. Often you have to resort to tricks like comparing with what the men do and trying to do better in order to keep on pushing.”
Tellingly, her latest record came in the international meet held at the start of this month by Athletics Malta. “After a good first throw, I suddenly found myself in second because Hannah Evenden had done better than me. It was a situation that I’m not used to but it got me going.” Evidence, yet again, of her taste for a challenge.
More will certainly come in the future. Apart from bettering her national record, she is already casting an eye at next year’s Small Nations Games where she admits to “wanting to win a medal”. With the Gemes having been the catalyst for such an important decision in her career, it would be the ideal pay-back.
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For Antonella Chouhal, that day came back in 2001 when, having achieved the qualification mark for the place Small Nations’ Games, her dreams were shattered once it emerged that her event – the shot put – wasn’t going to be held as not enough athletes had qualifed to take part.
“It was a huge disappointment and it felt as if the whole world was caving in,” she says, recalling the experience. “Looking back, however, it did me good because it spurred me on. I switched from the shot put and started focusing on the discus throw, an event at which I’m being much more successful.”
And how she has been successful. Last year she broke the national record that had stood for the previous twenty-five years and anyone who witnessed that 40.75m record breaking throw will surely recall Antonella’s celebrations upon setting the new mark. “It was very emotional because the previous record had stood for twenty five years. I’d come close on a number of occasions but always seemed to fall short by a couple of centimeters.”
This year, she has twice bettered the national record that now stands at 42.2m. “It was something that I expected,” she admits candidly. “That said, it is still off the target that I’ve set myself for this year. I want a throw of 45 metres so there is still some way to go.”
Even that is what Antonella terms as the “starting point”.
“When I talk to foreign athletes they’re all of the opinion that considering my strength I should be able to throw up to fifty five metres. That has to be my objective.”
In order to do so, she is training hard – her current routine includes two hours every day for six days during the week – which isn’t easy for a working mother of two. “I’m lucky in that I have a very supportive family,” she emphasises.
Yet a tight schedule is the least of her difficulties. As with so many other local athletes, Antonella cites the lack of competition as her biggest challenge.
“It is really difficult to motivate yourself. You know you’re going to win regardless of whether you have a good throw or not. It is a constant challenge to try to do your utmost. Often you have to resort to tricks like comparing with what the men do and trying to do better in order to keep on pushing.”
Tellingly, her latest record came in the international meet held at the start of this month by Athletics Malta. “After a good first throw, I suddenly found myself in second because Hannah Evenden had done better than me. It was a situation that I’m not used to but it got me going.” Evidence, yet again, of her taste for a challenge.
More will certainly come in the future. Apart from bettering her national record, she is already casting an eye at next year’s Small Nations Games where she admits to “wanting to win a medal”. With the Gemes having been the catalyst for such an important decision in her career, it would be the ideal pay-back.
Donatelle Callus won gold for Malta in the Triathlon Race held last Saturday 3rd May at the Salina Coast Road as part of the Mediterranean Friendship Games organized in conjunction with the Maltese Olympic Committee and CONI Sicilia. This was one position higher on the podium than what our Team achieved last November when these Games were organized for the first time in Sicily. On that equally memorable occasion, Malta won 2 silver (Danica Spiteri and Keith Galea) and 1 bronze (Donatelle Callus). On home ground, our athletes upped the tempo of the competition and managed to secure 1 gold and 2 bronze.