‘Normal is only normal because abnormity made it normal!’

Having already been in Malta earlier this year for a brief training camp, discus thrower Jenny Scott is back to compete in the International Meet with two lofty ambition in mind: throwing and helping change perception about her discipline.

How did you take up athletics? And how did you end up with throwing?
Me and my dad had gone for a run around the track one night just for fun and whilst we were there one of the local clubs were about to start training and my dad just happened to ask one of the coaches if I could do some throwing training and they pointed us towards the cage met a very wise old coach and the rest was history! My dad had asked because I’d always been known to throw a tennis ball miles (not literally!) but I used to beat all the boys at school doing it and the won a county schools competition for it! I was at the time playing football, netball and badminton so I wasn’t too serious about it, just for fun really!

Throwers have a reputation of being on the bulky side, shall we say? Does that irritate you?
What a great question! Yes, I think if you ask anyone there is definitely a stereotype lurking around throwing events (mainly the heavy throws). I can’t really say it irritates me, cause that’s my perception of throwing as well, I’m fully aware of people’s opinions around it and how it doesn’t get as much coverage as all the other events. I didn’t mention in the previous question that I used to be a much bigger person than I am now! The reason I most probably got into throwing is because I became quite a big girl!

Are people surprised when you tell them of your sport?
Yes! Every time I meet a new person or someone approaches me in a gym they always ask ‘what sport do you do’ and there always shocked by the answer! Now I tend not to say what event and just say ‘athletics’ then they normally say...’Oh, high jump? 100m ? 400m ? Pole Vault?’ (they’re the normal guess’s!). If I was totally honest I probably wouldn’t even bother throwing if I was always the person I am now, I’d like to think I could of done something else that’s ‘stereotypical’ for my stature and make my life a hell of a lot easier!

I love challenges! I’m a really contrary person, so on the flip side if someone tells me I can’t do something I’m pretty committed to prove them wrong! I like to think I’ve got a little more passion and desire than my competitors because as well as trying to achieve what I want, I want to achieve changing people’s perceptions and building a better popularity around discus just by being ‘different’. Different tends to turn heads a lot of the time (exposure is what’s needed!)! I made up a little quote (I haven’t seen it written anywhere else, so I’m going say it is mine!) ‘Normal is only normal because abnormity made it normal!’ that’s the quote I live by at the moment! You only need one person to buck a trend! Maybe if I become successful it may inspire others to take up the event and the stereotype will slowly vanish!

This will be your second trip to Malta. What were your first impressions?
I love Malta!!!....Whilst I was there I was thinking ‘hmmmm, I could easily live here!’, the country is so pretty, I really love my art and architecture, if I wasn’t in sport id be in art!! I just wanted to paint the place! (I probably wouldn’t do it justice though!)

Is it important to be able to compete in warm weather? Why?
Yes, I now think it is one of the most important things. Last year I did my first warm weather training in Portugal. I was a little apprehensive about going because it almost seemed stupid as a thrower, but the amount of technical work I got done out there really helped, you can’t get the same amount done at home because it is either windy/raining or just freezing!

Portugal particularly helped me with the rehab after my knee operation. Weirdly the heat made my progression rate far quicker started jogging on the beach in Portugal and my knee didn’t get as stiff as it did when I got back home!

What are you looking for in Malta? What results?
I haven’t done much throwing outside this winter. I tend to do a lot of indoors into a net as I can get double sometimes triple the amount of throws done than outside. It has been great for working on technical elements especially when me and Paul (Wilson) have changed quite a lot of my technique since last year. There are times when you just want to see a disc fly, when you know you’ve hit it right and you see it fly it is the best feeling ever, so I hope it can come together in Malta. I would love to open my season with 50+, I feel that’s a milestone that is achievable and will show I’m on a comeback after my injury and serious about throwing far!

What are your targets for the season / year?
My target is to throw as far as I physically can! One thing I’ve had in mind since going Europeans juniors is European u23’s. Euros has always been in my mind throughout the injury as last year there were no major competitions for me as an u23 so it didn’t matter than much that I had 2 knee operations because it was always 2009 that was going to matter. UK Athletics have set the standard at 55m, which is pretty huge!! I was 10m down on that last year but I like to think last year I was throwing pretty much with no legs and my general strength was nowhere near to what it is now! I just hope my work pays off, this is the hardest winter I’ve ever had, so I just hope me being not as heavy as my competitors won’t be too much of a barrier to throwing far! I want to throw flair!

Related Posts :