The Paris Olympics are in sight as they begin later this month.
Tokyo silver and bronze medallist Danielle Aitchison has been in blistering form this year, preparing for another successful Paralympic games.
She joined Piney to discuss her journey to being top in her field.
Aitchison said that Paris has been a goal since Tokyo, and for the last three years it's what they’ve been targeting every year.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from News Talk ZEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Can We sprinter Danielle Chison has been selected for the
upcoming Paralympic Games in Paris. Now this is not a surprise.
She is the reigning power World two hundred meter T
thirty six champion, setting a world record of twenty seven
point four to seven seconds to claim that gold medal
in Kobe in May. She also claimed one hundred meter
(00:35):
T thirty six silver in Kobe. Daniel Agison attended the
last Paralympics in Tokyo, where she won silver in the
women's two hundred meter T thirty six and bronze in
the women's one hundred meter T thirty six. Danielle Ahison
is with us. Congratulations on the confirmation of your place
in the Paralympic team for Paris. Danielle, how long would
(00:56):
you say this has been a goal of yours since Tokyo.
Speaker 3 (01:01):
It's def I been a goal just to has been
in my sight and for the last three years. It's
what we've been targeting every years, what we push ourselves
to do. And yeah, so we're excited to get over there.
Speaker 2 (01:17):
How strange an event was Tokyo. We were in COVID times.
Of course, it wasn't It wasn't normal. How do you
reflect on it?
Speaker 3 (01:27):
Yeah, it definitely was a different experience, especially with the
COVID situation with no spectators, being quite isolated and having
to follow all the COVID rules in terms of sanitation, masks,
s wearing as well as I was quite young back
to the wh I went to Tokyo Paralympic Games. So
it's very different experience and I'm looking forward to seeing
(01:52):
what this Parallempic game brings.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
I bet, I bet. Well. It's been a really, really
impressive recent few months for you. Can I take you
back to Kobe in May where you won gold at
the World Champs a world record time twenty seven force seven.
How do you remember that day?
Speaker 3 (02:10):
Ah? It was. Yeah, it's still so mind blown the
results that I got because it had been such as
stressful few months leading up in terms of the classification.
I was up for the view of classification, which was
the purpose of me going to real chance, and so
I had that looming over me, and so to get
(02:33):
confirmed tee thirty six as a classification, I was just
really wanting to go out the end of two hundred
and have fun. I'd gone over and I achieved for
a new tree, which was the teeth thirty six, and
so yeah, it was just so mind blown. I was
just so focused on myself and crossed that line and
(02:54):
just bease. I was just in disbelief that I had
run that fast and got that up time. And yeah,
it was just incredible.
Speaker 2 (03:05):
I just I want to come back to that race.
But can you talk to us about the classification process
and the stress that it caused you? Your T thirty six,
as I understand it, you could have been reclassified as
T thirty eight. Can you just tell us the ins
and outs of that.
Speaker 3 (03:20):
Yes. Yeah, So as a per athlete, we go through
the classifications and we often put up for review of classification,
which is can be a timeline of like s pump
six months to four years kind of thing. Because I
have Silver foor Z, our disability changes so much that
(03:41):
I was put on six months of you eighteen months ago.
So then I had to get reclassified at World Championships
last year in Paris, and then they put me on
another six months review. So then I had to get
it done again at this World Championships and that was
just to be reclassified three times within an eighteen months,
(04:07):
It's just so unusual and it definitely put a lot
of stress because it was like, well, they're really unsure
if they're putting me on that much reviews. So there
was a lot of I guess, a little bit of
like am I going to be changed to TE thirty eight?
Because if I was changed to T thro the eight,
it's a whole different ball game in terms of events
(04:29):
and times and qualifications. So yeah, it was just it
was a lot fighting on World Championships this year.
Speaker 2 (04:37):
Why do they have the reclassification process, Danielle, Surely if
you're T thirty six, you're always T thirty six, aren't you?
Speaker 3 (04:44):
Or not not necessarily just because yeah it can. Honestly,
my disability can change from day to day as so
it just depends on the day how my self was
is going to behave, I guess, and so sometimes they
might see me present as very normal. Some days I
(05:05):
can present real seal for Z like, and so it
can just depend on what they see and what they
pick up that. Yeah, that's the end result.
Speaker 2 (05:15):
Really, if they had reclassified you to T thirty eight,
what would have been the repercussions of that.
Speaker 3 (05:23):
The first one being my event. I TV E eight
only have one hundred, four hundred and long jump in
terms of like that I would be interested in, So
they wouldn't have my favorite event, which is two hundred,
and I have not trained for four hundred. I would
never do four hundred as the worst of it ever,
(05:46):
and I haven't trained for long jump, and so yeah,
and the events will change. And then they also run
a lot faster than t THV six is, so I
would need to be running a lot faster to meet
the qualification times as well.
Speaker 2 (06:01):
Well, I'm glad it's all worked out. Okay, back to
the two hundred twenty seven four sem you said that
you couldn't believe that time? How can how fast you
reckon you can now run? Have you reset your aspirations
and your goals in terms of how fast you can
run two hundred?
Speaker 3 (06:18):
No, I definitely think I still have more in me
and I'm still really excited to see what I can
do at the Paralympicks. I definitely think there's no limit
to what I'm willing to put down like a figure
and literally just like whatever happen will happen. Yeah, I'm
(06:38):
just really excited to see the time that I actually
do produce.
Speaker 2 (06:41):
Do you give equal focus to the one hundred meters?
Speaker 3 (06:44):
Yes, yeah, I'm equally focused on both of them, and
I'm probably a little bit more actually on the one
hundred specifically because the two hundred I feel a bit
more confident that I know exactly what need to do.
I also have a bit more time and the two
hundred to fix up any mistakes that I might necessarily
make in the block starts or et cetera. One hundred
(07:07):
is literally you don't have that much time to do anything.
It's a lot of It's a short mace and you've
got to get everything perfect to man it.
Speaker 2 (07:17):
So is the one hundred meter two hundred meter double Hear,
what we're after here, is that your your goal to
win them both?
Speaker 3 (07:25):
Yes, I would really like to do that.
Speaker 2 (07:28):
It's probably a silly question, isn't it. I mean the
two hundreds, you say, is one you've been so successful
and where of the whare of the improvements or what's
been behind the phenomenal, phenomenal improvements in your times in
the last twelve months, Because as I understand it, over
the New Zealand summer you were just setting PB after PB.
Speaker 3 (07:48):
Yeah, it's definitely a lot of factors. I think it
was last year I specifically had a lot of lot
to effect on and I found that I was hitting
a plateau in terms of my performances. I wasn't really
happy with just having the same performance. I really wanted
(08:09):
to make another improvement, and so we reached out to
a few different people to get their eyes on point
where they think that I can prove. I also think
certain other than technical, I also think it's been a
massive mental game as well. I really pushed myself this
year to put myself in uncomfortable situations or outside of
(08:34):
my comfort zone too, and especially in the racing situation,
because that's obviously what I need to do is practice racing.
And so during the New Zealand season, I would put
myself in my groups of girls that are faster than
me to really practice the environment of racing.
Speaker 2 (08:53):
Outstanding, we should do the four hundred that'll make you uncomfortable?
Speaker 3 (08:56):
Oh no way that I would literally die.
Speaker 2 (09:01):
Oh wow. Well, so what does what is the next
couple of months as you put your final touches on
your preparation for the Paralympics look like, what have you
got coming up?
Speaker 3 (09:12):
I've got about months still here in Hamilton home where
I'm just going to be working with my coaches and
we're going to be making some fine tuning some technical things,
and then I'm going to head over to Brussels and
Belgium and I'll do a few competitions over the year
as well as climatized for the heat because it is
(09:33):
really cold here and Hamilton it's ridiculous, so I'm really
looking forward to get into the heat. And then yeah,
I head into pre camp with Ethnicised and then into
the village.
Speaker 2 (09:44):
You know, you able to have friends, family with you
this time, because I know in Tokyo rather you know
spectators there, we're no spectators. So are you going to
have a support crew this time?
Speaker 3 (09:54):
Yes, I've got a big support team of nine people
coming to the Paralympic Games. So it's really exciting to
have actually my family supporting me in the crowds and
watching me.
Speaker 2 (10:05):
Fantastic, Danielle, terrific stuff. What a year or so you've had,
and I know there's more to come. We can't wait
to see how you go in the one hundred and
the two hundred meters in the upcoming Paralympic Games in Paris.
Thanks so much for taking the time for a chat.
Speaker 3 (10:17):
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (10:18):
Danielle Ahison there, Paralympic sprinter. Yeah, what a delight to
chat to her. Twenty seven four to seven the world
record she set to claim that gold medal and Kobe
in May. Yeah, going from strength to strength and running
both the one hundred and two hundred meters at the
Paralympics in Paris. Look out for that name Danielle.
Speaker 1 (10:39):
Chison for more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine. Listen
live to News Talk zed B weekends from midday, or
follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from News Talk ZEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Can We sprinter Danielle Chison has been selected for the
upcoming Paralympic Games in Paris. Now this is not a surprise.
She is the reigning power World two hundred meter T
thirty six champion, setting a world record of twenty seven
point four to seven seconds to claim that gold medal
in Kobe in May. She also claimed one hundred meter
(00:35):
T thirty six silver in Kobe. Daniel Agison attended the
last Paralympics in Tokyo, where she won silver in the
women's two hundred meter T thirty six and bronze in
the women's one hundred meter T thirty six. Danielle Ahison
is with us. Congratulations on the confirmation of your place
in the Paralympic team for Paris. Danielle, how long would
(00:56):
you say this has been a goal of yours since Tokyo.
Speaker 3 (01:01):
It's def I been a goal just to has been
in my sight and for the last three years. It's
what we've been targeting every years, what we push ourselves
to do. And yeah, so we're excited to get over there.
Speaker 2 (01:17):
How strange an event was Tokyo. We were in COVID times.
Of course, it wasn't It wasn't normal. How do you
reflect on it?
Speaker 3 (01:27):
Yeah, it definitely was a different experience, especially with the
COVID situation with no spectators, being quite isolated and having
to follow all the COVID rules in terms of sanitation, masks,
s wearing as well as I was quite young back
to the wh I went to Tokyo Paralympic Games. So
it's very different experience and I'm looking forward to seeing
(01:52):
what this Parallempic game brings.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
I bet, I bet. Well. It's been a really, really
impressive recent few months for you. Can I take you
back to Kobe in May where you won gold at
the World Champs a world record time twenty seven force seven.
How do you remember that day?
Speaker 3 (02:10):
Ah? It was. Yeah, it's still so mind blown the
results that I got because it had been such as
stressful few months leading up in terms of the classification.
I was up for the view of classification, which was
the purpose of me going to real chance, and so
I had that looming over me, and so to get
(02:33):
confirmed tee thirty six as a classification, I was just
really wanting to go out the end of two hundred
and have fun. I'd gone over and I achieved for
a new tree, which was the teeth thirty six, and
so yeah, it was just so mind blown. I was
just so focused on myself and crossed that line and
(02:54):
just bease. I was just in disbelief that I had
run that fast and got that up time. And yeah,
it was just incredible.
Speaker 2 (03:05):
I just I want to come back to that race.
But can you talk to us about the classification process
and the stress that it caused you? Your T thirty six,
as I understand it, you could have been reclassified as
T thirty eight. Can you just tell us the ins
and outs of that.
Speaker 3 (03:20):
Yes. Yeah, So as a per athlete, we go through
the classifications and we often put up for review of classification,
which is can be a timeline of like s pump
six months to four years kind of thing. Because I
have Silver foor Z, our disability changes so much that
(03:41):
I was put on six months of you eighteen months ago.
So then I had to get reclassified at World Championships
last year in Paris, and then they put me on
another six months review. So then I had to get
it done again at this World Championships and that was
just to be reclassified three times within an eighteen months,
(04:07):
It's just so unusual and it definitely put a lot
of stress because it was like, well, they're really unsure
if they're putting me on that much reviews. So there
was a lot of I guess, a little bit of
like am I going to be changed to TE thirty eight?
Because if I was changed to T thro the eight,
it's a whole different ball game in terms of events
(04:29):
and times and qualifications. So yeah, it was just it
was a lot fighting on World Championships this year.
Speaker 2 (04:37):
Why do they have the reclassification process, Danielle, Surely if
you're T thirty six, you're always T thirty six, aren't you?
Speaker 3 (04:44):
Or not not necessarily just because yeah it can. Honestly,
my disability can change from day to day as so
it just depends on the day how my self was
is going to behave, I guess, and so sometimes they
might see me present as very normal. Some days I
(05:05):
can present real seal for Z like, and so it
can just depend on what they see and what they
pick up that. Yeah, that's the end result.
Speaker 2 (05:15):
Really, if they had reclassified you to T thirty eight,
what would have been the repercussions of that.
Speaker 3 (05:23):
The first one being my event. I TV E eight
only have one hundred, four hundred and long jump in
terms of like that I would be interested in, So
they wouldn't have my favorite event, which is two hundred,
and I have not trained for four hundred. I would
never do four hundred as the worst of it ever,
(05:46):
and I haven't trained for long jump, and so yeah,
and the events will change. And then they also run
a lot faster than t THV six is, so I
would need to be running a lot faster to meet
the qualification times as well.
Speaker 2 (06:01):
Well, I'm glad it's all worked out. Okay, back to
the two hundred twenty seven four sem you said that
you couldn't believe that time? How can how fast you
reckon you can now run? Have you reset your aspirations
and your goals in terms of how fast you can
run two hundred?
Speaker 3 (06:18):
No, I definitely think I still have more in me
and I'm still really excited to see what I can
do at the Paralympicks. I definitely think there's no limit
to what I'm willing to put down like a figure
and literally just like whatever happen will happen. Yeah, I'm
(06:38):
just really excited to see the time that I actually
do produce.
Speaker 2 (06:41):
Do you give equal focus to the one hundred meters?
Speaker 3 (06:44):
Yes, yeah, I'm equally focused on both of them, and
I'm probably a little bit more actually on the one
hundred specifically because the two hundred I feel a bit
more confident that I know exactly what need to do.
I also have a bit more time and the two
hundred to fix up any mistakes that I might necessarily
make in the block starts or et cetera. One hundred
(07:07):
is literally you don't have that much time to do anything.
It's a lot of It's a short mace and you've
got to get everything perfect to man it.
Speaker 2 (07:17):
So is the one hundred meter two hundred meter double Hear,
what we're after here, is that your your goal to
win them both?
Speaker 3 (07:25):
Yes, I would really like to do that.
Speaker 2 (07:28):
It's probably a silly question, isn't it. I mean the
two hundreds, you say, is one you've been so successful
and where of the whare of the improvements or what's
been behind the phenomenal, phenomenal improvements in your times in
the last twelve months, Because as I understand it, over
the New Zealand summer you were just setting PB after PB.
Speaker 3 (07:48):
Yeah, it's definitely a lot of factors. I think it
was last year I specifically had a lot of lot
to effect on and I found that I was hitting
a plateau in terms of my performances. I wasn't really
happy with just having the same performance. I really wanted
(08:09):
to make another improvement, and so we reached out to
a few different people to get their eyes on point
where they think that I can prove. I also think
certain other than technical, I also think it's been a
massive mental game as well. I really pushed myself this
year to put myself in uncomfortable situations or outside of
(08:34):
my comfort zone too, and especially in the racing situation,
because that's obviously what I need to do is practice racing.
And so during the New Zealand season, I would put
myself in my groups of girls that are faster than
me to really practice the environment of racing.
Speaker 2 (08:53):
Outstanding, we should do the four hundred that'll make you uncomfortable?
Speaker 3 (08:56):
Oh no way that I would literally die.
Speaker 2 (09:01):
Oh wow. Well, so what does what is the next
couple of months as you put your final touches on
your preparation for the Paralympics look like, what have you
got coming up?
Speaker 3 (09:12):
I've got about months still here in Hamilton home where
I'm just going to be working with my coaches and
we're going to be making some fine tuning some technical things,
and then I'm going to head over to Brussels and
Belgium and I'll do a few competitions over the year
as well as climatized for the heat because it is
(09:33):
really cold here and Hamilton it's ridiculous, so I'm really
looking forward to get into the heat. And then yeah,
I head into pre camp with Ethnicised and then into
the village.
Speaker 2 (09:44):
You know, you able to have friends, family with you
this time, because I know in Tokyo rather you know
spectators there, we're no spectators. So are you going to
have a support crew this time?
Speaker 3 (09:54):
Yes, I've got a big support team of nine people
coming to the Paralympic Games. So it's really exciting to
have actually my family supporting me in the crowds and
watching me.
Speaker 2 (10:05):
Fantastic, Danielle, terrific stuff. What a year or so you've had,
and I know there's more to come. We can't wait
to see how you go in the one hundred and
the two hundred meters in the upcoming Paralympic Games in Paris.
Thanks so much for taking the time for a chat.
Speaker 3 (10:17):
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (10:18):
Danielle Ahison there, Paralympic sprinter. Yeah, what a delight to
chat to her. Twenty seven four to seven the world
record she set to claim that gold medal and Kobe
in May. Yeah, going from strength to strength and running
both the one hundred and two hundred meters at the
Paralympics in Paris. Look out for that name Danielle.
Speaker 1 (10:39):
Chison for more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine. Listen
live to News Talk zed B weekends from midday, or
follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.
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