29.02.2008

One jump and Thornell's flying

John Thornell even surprised himself when he earned a spot in Saturday night’s long jump final after just one leap.

Not for a lack of faith in the talented 22 year-old, but after four horrendous months combating a stress fracture in his back, few were expecting to even see him at the Australian Championships in Brisbane.

Up until two weeks ago, Thornell didn’t think he would compete for the national title either. Ready to sail in November, the fracture cracked again.

The Canberra Athletics Classic came. Thornell didn’t jump. The World Athletics Tour in Melbourne promised strong competition. Again, Thornell had to decline.

“About four months ago when I first did the stress fracture, I was looking past the nationals to compete in Japan and trying to qualify then,” he said. “Two weeks ago the doctor gave me the all clear to compete her, so I started training (then).

“I was probably a bit more surprised that I jumped what I did today. They just said that I had to come out and try to prove some fitness but it looks like I’m getting on track for the Olympics, so that’s all I’m out here for.”

Thornell is a hard head, but a likeable character and one obviously popular with his contemporaries. Many moved to congratulate him after his mini triumph on Thursday.

He’s an honest character too, recognising that little more than 12 months ago the opportunity to represent the Australian Institute of Sport was almost dashed.

Re-locating to Canberra to join Craig Hilliard, a man he considers “the best coach in the country”, he soon found out that the best place for his party boy persona was the door.

“I was being a bit of a larrikin with the old traits that I’d come from came out while I was there,” he said. “I was borderline to losing my scholarship. The directors and all them called me in and told me to wake up to myself pretty much and that was something I needed.

“I didn’t leave my friends and family to muck around and that was exactly what I did when I got there. Then they told me I was skating on thin ice to keep it. It would have been really embarrassing to lose my scholarship so early and then go back home. The first two or three weeks really woke me up.

“The move taught me a lot about respect for myself and a lot of respect for other people as well, because we do live with other athletes,” he added. “It was a really big turning point because I did come from being a raging party animal sort of a bloke to settling down and understanding where I really want to go. It gives you an insight of where you can go. You really do start to believe in yourself when you spend that time by yourself and with people that actually have the same goals.”

For all of his tricks, success didn’t evade the old Thornell, who broke the Australian under-18 (2002) and under-20 records (2004) en route to World Junior Championships bronze and fifth place at the Commonwealth Games of 2006. That came soon after an 8.08m leap in Canberra, No. 10 on the Australian all-time list.

He’s more mature now and remains the optimist despite his first major injury landing on the eve of what he hopes is his first Olympic Games.

“It’s been hard because I’ve never really been injured at all,” he confirmed. “To come around to the Olympics and know I could have a shot at this one, that’s been most frustrating.

“It was always going to be hard with the way the boys are jumping. They were all over eight metres and Chris (Noffke) has been training with Mike Powell in America. I know that these boys are coming in shape and that Fabrice (Lapierre) is a big-time performer and Robbie (Crowther) as well.”

Crowther shares a house with Thornell at the AIS and the two have bonded. Twenty year-old Crowther recently acknowledged the positive influence that his house-mate has had on him.

“I’ve been around a long time, competing since I was 16,” Thornell said. “Robbie’s chased a few of my records and run them down. But just because I’m older it doesn’t mean I can’t look up to him.

“He’s a talented kid. He scares me on the runway (because) he really can do something special one day and I’m all for it. He’s a good bloke who has a good head on his shoulders, really respectful to myself and respectful to Hill (Craig Hilliard), always on time, never got a bad word to say about anyone.

“If he’s the man to pip me for an Olympic spot one day, I’m not really going to (worry too much) because the kid deserves it.”

The race will be on but, now, it’s all about Saturday with a maiden national title within reach.

“If I go 8.20 I’m not going to be surprised,” Thornell laughed. “(But) at the moment I think I’m only going to get one jump out, depending on how the back feels.”

By Steve Lavell

The Selection Trials and 86^th Australian Championships continue at Queensland Sport & Athletics Centre on Friday, February 29 and Saturday, March 1. Tickets are available at the gate. Click here for more information

Click here for the review of day one