This is what Russell Tucker replied when asked what it would take to qualify for the Olympic Games as a discus thrower.
The safe money would be not to bet against Tucker qualifying for Rio. Earlier this season he threw 64.24m, just 76cm short of the Olympic qualification standard. At the South African Championships he was second with a throw of 63.96m.
Tucker is confident that he will throw the 65 metres that is required to qualify for the Games at the official opening of the new Tuks athletics track on Saturday.
“I know I can qualify. My goal is not merely to throw 65m. My coach, Dup du Preez, and I are working towards throwing 67 metres. It is definitely doable, but I don’t want to peak too early. The big throw must happen in the Olympic final.”
He is not exaggerating when he talks about blood, sweat and tears. At last year’s World Student Games discus final at the Gwangju University in Korea, he took a hard tumble in the circle while busy with an attempt to launch his discus.
“It was a rookie mistake. Fully realizing that the circle was going to be wet and slippery after a monsoon rainstorm, I forgot to pack the shoes I always use when competing in wet conditions. So I ended up paying the price, said Tucker who threw 57.31 metres and finished 7th in the final.
Tucker did not tell whether he shed a silent tear when he hit the cement, but he certainly knows what hard work entails. Despite being a serious student who is currently studying for a third degree, he sometimes trains three times per day.
