In the space of six months, Hamish Kerr became a world indoor champion and then an Olympic gold medallist, feats that no other New Zealander had ever achieved in high jump.
How does Kerr build the team that leads him to success?
The 28-year-old reflects on the Olympics and the past year in his career.
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Speaker 1 (00:09):
You're listening to a podcast from News Talks. It'd be
follow this and our wide range of podcasts now on iHeartRadio.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Olympic gold medalist Timish Kerr and impressive achievement, almost as
impressive as they come. In the space of six months,
the twenty eight year old became a world indoor champion
and then an Olympic gold medalist, feats that no other
New Zealander had ever achieved in high jump.
Speaker 3 (00:36):
In the jump off thirty eight, thirty six, thirty four,
unable to convert. Now it's Hamish curR again, match on
his racket, fourth time, fourth time Kerrs had a chance
to win the gold medal. Hamish cur that time he
is clear and with plenty and the New Zealander explodes
(00:59):
and starts taking a lap through the infield. Are we
done throwing javelin? I want to make sure rob Is
he safe?
Speaker 1 (01:05):
Yes?
Speaker 3 (01:05):
Kitchi good, kitchiku, She's finished, very good. Can't be wandering
around like that? Yes?
Speaker 2 (01:13):
An amazing, amazing moment for Hamish cur winning gold and
then take care for your risk running through the javelin
field and Hamish cur joins me.
Speaker 4 (01:22):
Now, good morning morning, how are you going? Oh?
Speaker 2 (01:24):
I'm pretty good. You must be going pretty well. Amazing
year for you, isn't it.
Speaker 1 (01:29):
Oh?
Speaker 4 (01:30):
Yeah, it's been insane. Honestly, it feels like it's been
the longest year in my life, but it's definitely been
the best one as well, which is good.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
Does it sort of feel surreal in a way when
you look at the success you've had.
Speaker 4 (01:42):
Yeah, yeah, it definitely does. I mean, you know, you
dream big and you put all these amazement plans in place,
but yeah, to kind of sit at the end of
the year and realize that everything we wanted out of
this year we actually achieved was a pretty special moment
and it doesn't really happen that often your career.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
How do you How do you cope with the pressure
of those moments, Because I guess it's the more success
you have, there's the public pressure that builds up, But
what's the pressure that you place on yourself and dealing
with that?
Speaker 4 (02:09):
Yeah, I think, I mean, look, there is definitely a
target on my back now, and I think that that's
something that you know, it definitely changes over your career.
It's it's almost like when you're when you're young and
you're sort of bath hunderdog it's it's almost easy in
a way because you can kind of just sneak in
there and compete and then get out of there again.
But once you kind of have that expectation of performance,
it definitely changes things. But I think for me, I mean,
(02:32):
I mean, I love that. I mean it means that
I'm obviously doing the right things. I'm obviously doing the
right training and have the right team of people around me,
and and and and one of the best in the world.
And so I suppose for me, you know, being the
athlete that's that's kind of the gold standard, right, But yeah,
it is exhausting, and you know, it does it does
require a lot of downtime as well when I'm not competing,
and I suppose that's something that would continue with for
(02:53):
the next four years.
Speaker 2 (02:55):
So actually, just talk us through your celebration. That didn't
you almost get in trouble for running through the javelin field?
Speaker 4 (03:03):
Yes, well no, I actually didn't. So the commentators obviously
so locked in the high jump, they kind of didn't
realize what was going on all over the rest of
the field. But I didn't actually know that the jablin
had been finished for a few minutes. I saw the
girls run around on the on the victory celebration laps.
So I knew that the infield was opened, and so
I just you know, I took my charge and hope
(03:25):
no one could tell me off.
Speaker 2 (03:26):
I see, you've done your research. I actually sometimes wonder
how much of a risk that is with all the
different field events going on. You ever had any close shaves?
Speaker 4 (03:36):
Look, I've almost been run into a few times by
probably track races. It's probably the main one for us,
given that we crossed the track quite a bit through
our run up and then also going to talk to
our coaches. But yeah, I mean, look, I mean that's
the great thing about aesthetics. There's always so much going
on at once. It's always you know, really high energy.
And for me being being a big fan of sport
and being out in their outfield for for so long,
(03:57):
I actually get to watch a lot of it, which
which for me is awesome.
Speaker 2 (04:01):
So your training process, how do you how do you
manage getting the peaks right?
Speaker 3 (04:07):
Is it?
Speaker 2 (04:08):
There's the philosophical side, I'm not the physical philosophical side. Sorry,
there's the mental side and there's the physical side.
Speaker 4 (04:16):
Yeah, yeah, I mean, look, I'm just very grateful for
the for my team. I think that, Yeah, if you're
asking me that question, it's it's a bit of a
I just turn up and do what the coach says
a sort of answer, And I think that I'm really
lucky that I've got an amazing team of people around me.
But yeah, at the same time, I mean, you know,
we we do a lot of really heavy training about
the summer year, so when I'm not competing, and that's
(04:37):
when we do all our big sort of building the
engine work, so to speak. And then and then we
sort of put the right tires and tune up that
engine as we close to comp and you just hope
that that all that that work that you've done in
the preseason is gonna it's going to pay off.
Speaker 2 (04:51):
So you say, you've turned up and do what the
coach said. Says huge, huge trust things, isn't it with
the people you work with?
Speaker 4 (04:59):
Yeah, massively. Look, I think I think that's that's something
I'm very lucky we've kind of fostered debt trust over
a number of years now. But yeah, I'm I mean,
I'm heavily involved in the planning process. I like to
sit down off the team and really get everyone kind
of across the dream and the expectations for what we're
trying to achieve each year. But then once it's almost
signed off, then that's really my opportunity to kind of
(05:23):
get back from that organizational role, so to say, and
then just really focus on what's going to make me
jump the best, which for a lot of the time
is issue just the training.
Speaker 2 (05:33):
How long does it actually take you to get to
get all of you to know each other and what's
going to be the best way to build for success.
Speaker 4 (05:41):
Well, I mean the team iman has taken a number
of years. So the person who's probably worked alongside my
team as my video who has been with me for
about seven years now, and then the rest of the
team have sort of ranged between about two years to
about five years, So you know, it does take a
long time, and it takes a long time for them
to really get to know me and what makes me
(06:03):
work as well. So yeah, it's a constant kind of
battle to optimize everyone's strengths and weaknesses and you know
all the other fun things that most sort of other
teams do around the world. But yeah, it's something that
I'm really lucky that in christ Church teams really college
to begin with, and you know, we all kind of
work out of the same office and I'm very connected
(06:25):
day to day, so it really helps.
Speaker 2 (06:26):
Hamish people would assume the Olympics of the pinnacle. Was
it the pinnacle for you or did you have other
personal highlights that might have strangely enough trumped that one.
Speaker 4 (06:40):
I think it's quite a short answer, very much as
the cinnacle. You know, I obviously had some amazing success
on Diamond League circuit and also at World Indoors this year.
But I mean for me, my overwatching kind of feeling
is is that I didn't grow up watching those comps,
but I did grow up watching the Olympics. You know,
I've got such fond memories of sitting at home with
Mum and Dad and kind of parked up in front
(07:00):
of the TV watching all the key with you know,
do some amazing things at the games, and so for
me being able to kind of add to that history
with something that so visual, When did you.
Speaker 2 (07:10):
Realize you could be a gold medalist?
Speaker 4 (07:16):
Ah, it's a funny one, like I think.
Speaker 2 (07:19):
I mean, there's the dream, isn't there There's that there's
you know, you might have been a teenager thanking God,
I'd love to win a gold medal. When did you
actually think, hell, this could happen.
Speaker 4 (07:28):
Probably probably about five minutes before I became one, to
be brutally honestly, I think I think the thing is
is that for me, you know, high spent a very
personal journey. I have always been very focused on how
do I get better within myself and be the best
high jumper that I can be, And sometimes that mentality
is is it sort of disconnects me from the rest
(07:51):
of the field and really understanding, you know, where I
sit with those guys, And so, yeah, I think it's
an interesting I'm like, I definitely thought that I could meddle,
and I really believed that that was something that was
possible within my career. But you know, if you had
told me at the start of the year that I
was going to be the lump champion, yeah, I would
have thought that was pretty cool, but also would have
taken that with a bit of a cynical grain of
(08:13):
salt and sort of said, yeah, well, I don't know,
we'll see.
Speaker 2 (08:16):
Yeah, because we get the feeling of, obviously when we're
following you, that there's this massive public support. Do you
sort of keep yourself connected with that or do you
try and isolate it?
Speaker 4 (08:25):
Ah, No, I do, I do. Like I mean, I
think it's been so cool, you know, just seeing the
support evolve over the years. You know, it was almost
I almost when I came into the sport, I'd mentioned
high jumping and people would think I was talking about
Povok just Kevin, you know, our history with that event
in the country, and just to see that evolve over
the years to nowadays when you know, I mentioned that
(08:48):
I'm a high jump to people and pretty much straight
away they can they can work out who I'm talking
about and all who I'm referring to. So it's it's
a pretty cool thing and I think that for me,
you know, it just adds to the strength of sport
New Zealand because we've got so many amazing sports that
you can play, but you know, just add another little
pathway there is something that's very special. So we're to now, Yeah,
(09:10):
good question. Obviously Christmas looking forward to that, just spending
time with my family, who all of them willing to
now grew up in Auckland, but the siblings are down there,
so we'll be looking forward to catch up with them
and then and then yeah, next year, it is pretty
flat out. I've got I've got World Indoors in March,
and then I've got World Outdoors in September. So looking
(09:31):
forward to a big year with that World Outdoors, a
store championship that i haven't had won, and that's that's
something that's a massive goal for me.
Speaker 2 (09:39):
Oh well, hey, good luck with all that. We really
appreciate your time today and we'll look forward to seeing
your rock and roll next rock and roll in twenty
twenty five.
Speaker 4 (09:48):
Awesome, thanks Eyes, cheers mate.
Speaker 1 (09:50):
For more from News Talks ed B, listen live on
air or online, and keep our shows with you wherever
you go with our podcast on Ihart Radio.
You're listening to a podcast from News Talks. It'd be
follow this and our wide range of podcasts now on iHeartRadio.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Olympic gold medalist Timish Kerr and impressive achievement, almost as
impressive as they come. In the space of six months,
the twenty eight year old became a world indoor champion
and then an Olympic gold medalist, feats that no other
New Zealander had ever achieved in high jump.
Speaker 3 (00:36):
In the jump off thirty eight, thirty six, thirty four,
unable to convert. Now it's Hamish curR again, match on
his racket, fourth time, fourth time Kerrs had a chance
to win the gold medal. Hamish cur that time he
is clear and with plenty and the New Zealander explodes
(00:59):
and starts taking a lap through the infield. Are we
done throwing javelin? I want to make sure rob Is
he safe?
Speaker 1 (01:05):
Yes?
Speaker 3 (01:05):
Kitchi good, kitchiku, She's finished, very good. Can't be wandering
around like that? Yes?
Speaker 2 (01:13):
An amazing, amazing moment for Hamish cur winning gold and
then take care for your risk running through the javelin
field and Hamish cur joins me.
Speaker 4 (01:22):
Now, good morning morning, how are you going? Oh?
Speaker 2 (01:24):
I'm pretty good. You must be going pretty well. Amazing
year for you, isn't it.
Speaker 1 (01:29):
Oh?
Speaker 4 (01:30):
Yeah, it's been insane. Honestly, it feels like it's been
the longest year in my life, but it's definitely been
the best one as well, which is good.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
Does it sort of feel surreal in a way when
you look at the success you've had.
Speaker 4 (01:42):
Yeah, yeah, it definitely does. I mean, you know, you
dream big and you put all these amazement plans in place,
but yeah, to kind of sit at the end of
the year and realize that everything we wanted out of
this year we actually achieved was a pretty special moment
and it doesn't really happen that often your career.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
How do you How do you cope with the pressure
of those moments, Because I guess it's the more success
you have, there's the public pressure that builds up, But
what's the pressure that you place on yourself and dealing
with that?
Speaker 4 (02:09):
Yeah, I think, I mean, look, there is definitely a
target on my back now, and I think that that's
something that you know, it definitely changes over your career.
It's it's almost like when you're when you're young and
you're sort of bath hunderdog it's it's almost easy in
a way because you can kind of just sneak in
there and compete and then get out of there again.
But once you kind of have that expectation of performance,
it definitely changes things. But I think for me, I mean,
(02:32):
I mean, I love that. I mean it means that
I'm obviously doing the right things. I'm obviously doing the
right training and have the right team of people around me,
and and and and one of the best in the world.
And so I suppose for me, you know, being the
athlete that's that's kind of the gold standard, right, But yeah,
it is exhausting, and you know, it does it does
require a lot of downtime as well when I'm not competing,
and I suppose that's something that would continue with for
(02:53):
the next four years.
Speaker 2 (02:55):
So actually, just talk us through your celebration. That didn't
you almost get in trouble for running through the javelin field?
Speaker 4 (03:03):
Yes, well no, I actually didn't. So the commentators obviously
so locked in the high jump, they kind of didn't
realize what was going on all over the rest of
the field. But I didn't actually know that the jablin
had been finished for a few minutes. I saw the
girls run around on the on the victory celebration laps.
So I knew that the infield was opened, and so
I just you know, I took my charge and hope
(03:25):
no one could tell me off.
Speaker 2 (03:26):
I see, you've done your research. I actually sometimes wonder
how much of a risk that is with all the
different field events going on. You ever had any close shaves?
Speaker 4 (03:36):
Look, I've almost been run into a few times by
probably track races. It's probably the main one for us,
given that we crossed the track quite a bit through
our run up and then also going to talk to
our coaches. But yeah, I mean, look, I mean that's
the great thing about aesthetics. There's always so much going
on at once. It's always you know, really high energy.
And for me being being a big fan of sport
and being out in their outfield for for so long,
(03:57):
I actually get to watch a lot of it, which
which for me is awesome.
Speaker 2 (04:01):
So your training process, how do you how do you
manage getting the peaks right?
Speaker 3 (04:07):
Is it?
Speaker 2 (04:08):
There's the philosophical side, I'm not the physical philosophical side. Sorry,
there's the mental side and there's the physical side.
Speaker 4 (04:16):
Yeah, yeah, I mean, look, I'm just very grateful for
the for my team. I think that, Yeah, if you're
asking me that question, it's it's a bit of a
I just turn up and do what the coach says
a sort of answer, And I think that I'm really
lucky that I've got an amazing team of people around me.
But yeah, at the same time, I mean, you know,
we we do a lot of really heavy training about
the summer year, so when I'm not competing, and that's
(04:37):
when we do all our big sort of building the
engine work, so to speak. And then and then we
sort of put the right tires and tune up that
engine as we close to comp and you just hope
that that all that that work that you've done in
the preseason is gonna it's going to pay off.
Speaker 2 (04:51):
So you say, you've turned up and do what the
coach said. Says huge, huge trust things, isn't it with
the people you work with?
Speaker 4 (04:59):
Yeah, massively. Look, I think I think that's that's something
I'm very lucky we've kind of fostered debt trust over
a number of years now. But yeah, I'm I mean,
I'm heavily involved in the planning process. I like to
sit down off the team and really get everyone kind
of across the dream and the expectations for what we're
trying to achieve each year. But then once it's almost
signed off, then that's really my opportunity to kind of
(05:23):
get back from that organizational role, so to say, and
then just really focus on what's going to make me
jump the best, which for a lot of the time
is issue just the training.
Speaker 2 (05:33):
How long does it actually take you to get to
get all of you to know each other and what's
going to be the best way to build for success.
Speaker 4 (05:41):
Well, I mean the team iman has taken a number
of years. So the person who's probably worked alongside my
team as my video who has been with me for
about seven years now, and then the rest of the
team have sort of ranged between about two years to
about five years, So you know, it does take a
long time, and it takes a long time for them
to really get to know me and what makes me
(06:03):
work as well. So yeah, it's a constant kind of
battle to optimize everyone's strengths and weaknesses and you know
all the other fun things that most sort of other
teams do around the world. But yeah, it's something that
I'm really lucky that in christ Church teams really college
to begin with, and you know, we all kind of
work out of the same office and I'm very connected
(06:25):
day to day, so it really helps.
Speaker 2 (06:26):
Hamish people would assume the Olympics of the pinnacle. Was
it the pinnacle for you or did you have other
personal highlights that might have strangely enough trumped that one.
Speaker 4 (06:40):
I think it's quite a short answer, very much as
the cinnacle. You know, I obviously had some amazing success
on Diamond League circuit and also at World Indoors this year.
But I mean for me, my overwatching kind of feeling
is is that I didn't grow up watching those comps,
but I did grow up watching the Olympics. You know,
I've got such fond memories of sitting at home with
Mum and Dad and kind of parked up in front
(07:00):
of the TV watching all the key with you know,
do some amazing things at the games, and so for
me being able to kind of add to that history
with something that so visual, When did you.
Speaker 2 (07:10):
Realize you could be a gold medalist?
Speaker 4 (07:16):
Ah, it's a funny one, like I think.
Speaker 2 (07:19):
I mean, there's the dream, isn't there There's that there's
you know, you might have been a teenager thanking God,
I'd love to win a gold medal. When did you
actually think, hell, this could happen.
Speaker 4 (07:28):
Probably probably about five minutes before I became one, to
be brutally honestly, I think I think the thing is
is that for me, you know, high spent a very
personal journey. I have always been very focused on how
do I get better within myself and be the best
high jumper that I can be, And sometimes that mentality
is is it sort of disconnects me from the rest
(07:51):
of the field and really understanding, you know, where I
sit with those guys, And so, yeah, I think it's
an interesting I'm like, I definitely thought that I could meddle,
and I really believed that that was something that was
possible within my career. But you know, if you had
told me at the start of the year that I
was going to be the lump champion, yeah, I would
have thought that was pretty cool, but also would have
taken that with a bit of a cynical grain of
(08:13):
salt and sort of said, yeah, well, I don't know,
we'll see.
Speaker 2 (08:16):
Yeah, because we get the feeling of, obviously when we're
following you, that there's this massive public support. Do you
sort of keep yourself connected with that or do you
try and isolate it?
Speaker 4 (08:25):
Ah, No, I do, I do. Like I mean, I
think it's been so cool, you know, just seeing the
support evolve over the years. You know, it was almost
I almost when I came into the sport, I'd mentioned
high jumping and people would think I was talking about
Povok just Kevin, you know, our history with that event
in the country, and just to see that evolve over
the years to nowadays when you know, I mentioned that
(08:48):
I'm a high jump to people and pretty much straight
away they can they can work out who I'm talking
about and all who I'm referring to. So it's it's
a pretty cool thing and I think that for me,
you know, it just adds to the strength of sport
New Zealand because we've got so many amazing sports that
you can play, but you know, just add another little
pathway there is something that's very special. So we're to now, Yeah,
(09:10):
good question. Obviously Christmas looking forward to that, just spending
time with my family, who all of them willing to
now grew up in Auckland, but the siblings are down there,
so we'll be looking forward to catch up with them
and then and then yeah, next year, it is pretty
flat out. I've got I've got World Indoors in March,
and then I've got World Outdoors in September. So looking
(09:31):
forward to a big year with that World Outdoors, a
store championship that i haven't had won, and that's that's
something that's a massive goal for me.
Speaker 2 (09:39):
Oh well, hey, good luck with all that. We really
appreciate your time today and we'll look forward to seeing
your rock and roll next rock and roll in twenty
twenty five.
Speaker 4 (09:48):
Awesome, thanks Eyes, cheers mate.
Speaker 1 (09:50):
For more from News Talks ed B, listen live on
air or online, and keep our shows with you wherever
you go with our podcast on Ihart Radio.
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