It’s special putting on the Australian uniform, especially at the Commonwealth Games, according to Gold Coast gold medallist Brandon Starc.
Eight years after his Youth Olympic Games silver medal, Starc enjoyed a breakthrough season in 2018. He won gold on home soil at the Commonwealth Games on Gold Coast, equalled the Oceanian record of 2.36m in Eberstadt, and won the Diamond Trophy in Brussels.
“It’s special putting on the Australian uniform, especially at the Commonwealth Games,” he says. “They might not know who you are, but they’re cheering for you and that’s a really great feeling. To compete for your country overseas is a whole other ball game.
“Winning a gold medal gives you a lot of confidence going into your next competition,” he adds. “That kick-started a whole year with the belief that I can compete with the world’s best and do some damage.
“The difference (in 2018) is that I believed in myself and that I belonged in the high jumping world. Before the Commonwealth Games final, I said to myself, ‘alright, I’m here, I’m in the final, I have a good chance of doing well. Back yourself and go well’.”
Watch full interview below.
“You’re not a world class high jumper by doing the bare minimum. You have to work hard.”😤😤😤@Brandonstarc93’s Inside Athletics episode is here 👊 pic.twitter.com/HKDuBKPYEb
— IAAF (@iaaforg) October 22, 2019
