https://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/sport/local-sport/jake-dorans-pipe-dream-is-headed-for-reality-in-tokyo/news-story/ddd852b08b8f8af30aeeb1b20250a23e WHAT was once “just a pipe dream” is now a very possible reality for Jake Doran. Training harder than he ever has before, the Townsville sprinter is mapping his path to the Tokyo Olympics. Doran’s memories of watching the stars of the 2008 Beijing Olympics still stand firm, acting as a powerful driving force throughout his sprinting career. Now his own berth, in what he says is “the pinnacle” of sport, is his for the taking. “Watching them you remember thinking these guys are superhuman, and you look at the Olympics as the dream career along with being an actor or singer – it’s an almost unobtainable dream,” Doran said.
“As I matured into my teen years and sport became more of a reality, that aim to be world class was always ingrained in my attitude. “It’s a stretch, it is for anybody in the sport, but that’s what we’re looking towards doing and angling everything towards. “Given recent times and recent runs I’m looking to keep growing and if I do continue on the trend we’ve set I’m in a confident spot.” It has been a vigorous eight months of training and competing for the 19-year-old — a silver medal at the Oceania Championships in June stamping his name into the Olympic frame. Most recently he travelled to New Zealand for the Sir Graeme Douglas International, placing third in the 100m. The lead up for the highly touted teenager was a difficult one, given he only arrived in the country the day before. Without the opportunity to acclimatise to very different conditions than his hometown, Doran ran below his best with a finish time of 10.47. Despite the less than ideal preparation, the Olympic hopeful took confidence out of the meet where even below his best he proved a force to be reckoned with. “It was interesting, for the first time in a while I was struggling to run really fast. You really have to force the mind to do what you want it to do,” Doran said. “It was really refreshing to maintain somewhat of a fast time despite fighting my body. “(But) we’re never satisfied, it’s a very impatient sport. Now it’s about getting through the comps, continuing to grow and it’s a bit of a confidence boost knowing on a bad day I can still perform.” Doran and his coach Paul Di Bella have sought out international races in Japan and Europe to test the young athlete against the best in the world to bolster his points ahead of Olympic qualifications.
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AuthorI covered a vast range of sports and issues in my time with the Bulletin. Archives
June 2020
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