Wagga runner Carly Salmon says her Commonwealth Games experience has fired her desire to stay in athletics and reach for new goals.
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Salmon was back in Wagga on Friday as a guest of honour at her old school, and Sacred Heart Primary turned on a green-and-gold day of celebration to mark her achievement on the Gold Coast.
Salmon finished fourth in the T35 100m final and said the buzz of competing at that level, in front of a home crowd has ignited her ambition to aim for the 2020 Paralympics in Tokyo.
“The Commonwealth Games definitely instilled a new motivation in me,” Salmon said.
“I wasn’t sure, moving to Canberra, if I was going to continue with athletics. Just because I have a lot of new opportunities arising, with teaching and things like that.
“But since the Commonwealth Games, I’ve gone straight back to training. I’m training twice as hard as I ever have and I've got new motivation to get to Tokyo, and medal.
“I’m so excited to see where I can go, and I know I have a lot of potential to get to where I want to be.”
That, funnily enough, was the same message Salmon was keen to pass on to the children at her old school.
But the 18-year-old made it clear that inspiration is a two-way street, telling the Sacred Heart Primary students that she gets as much from their support.
“You guys make me feel like a superstar,” she told them. “And the letters you’ve sent me. I’ve read them all about 10 times each.”
The Games weren't just memorable for the excitement of the event, or her own performance – running her fastest 100m of the season. Salmon said it widened her eyes to a bigger picture.
“It’s not even the running. The thing I like about athletics the most is being able to inspire people,” she said. “I feel like that’s been my goal this whole time. It’s what I strive to do and if I can inspire even just one person, my goal’s been achieved.”
Salmon is studying to be a primary teacher in Canberra and knows the importance of role models to young students.
“We had Brad Kahlefeldt here after he won gold at the Commonwealth Games and we had a massive green-and-gold day out the front. I still remember it, and I was quite young then,” she said.
“He was definitely someone I looked up to and I thought that was the best schooling day here! I got his autograph and it was the most incredible thing.
“It’s ridiculous... I never would’ve thought this was where I would be today. Coming back here is incredible. They definitely do treat me as a superstar and I have to admit – I do love it!”