Matt Denny in partnership with Coles visited Rochester Little Athletics Centre to donate $5000 for a new high jump mat.
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Olympic bronze medallist Matthew Denny took a break from training to visit Rochester Little Athletics Centre, giving the athletes some pointers and making an important donation.
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Denny, who won discus bronze at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, is no stranger to rural areas, having grown up in the small town of Allora about 150km south-west of Brisbane.
Along with showing Rochy’s little athletes a thing or two about discus throwing, Denny in partnership with Coles donated $5000 to the centre for a new high jump mat as part of the Coles Little Athletics Community Fund.
“With this grant, we’ll be able to purchase a new high jump mat to replace the one that was damaged in the 2022 floods,” Rochester Little Athletics treasurer Mel Dyson said.
“The new high jump mat will greatly enhance the safety and experience for our athletes and volunteers.
“By updating our equipment, we can continue to support our community's recovery and growth, ensuring a high-quality and safe environment for all.”
Matt Denny chats with the little athletes and parents about what it means to be an Olympian.
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Denny was thrilled to be in Rochester as part of the Coles Community Round 2024 and reflected on how grassroots athletics was a great way for kids to enjoy sport without the pressure.
“I come from a small rural town in Queensland, so I never got any Little Athletics centres or anything, so it’s really nice to be able to come here and give back,” he said.
“One of the things that is great about Little Athletics is that it isn’t focused too much on high performance and the nitty-gritty stuff that is at the forefront of my side of the sport.
“It shows how kids can just have fun and enjoy their sport, catch up with friends and try new events while staying fit and healthy.
“A massive part about the Coles Community Round is seeing where the money they provide is being spent and going back into those centres, seeing the kids thriving with more equipment.”
Matt Denny gives discus-throwing tips to the kids.
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Denny also highlighted that his favourite aspect of spending time at local athletics centres was providing a bit of “shock factor” to the kids with his elite ability.
“The thing that I love about doing these kinds of events is that obviously I do training every day, so I get used to throwing far so when I pick up a lightweight disc and throw it over 75 metres it blows the kids’ minds — they can’t wrap their heads around it,” he said.
“It’s always fun to see the kids have a bit of shock value, and it is satisfying to me to know that what I do is still impressive to them.
“The kids keep the sport alive, so to be able to entertain them like that is fulfilling for me because it keeps the spark there.”
Matt Denny made sure there was plenty of time for autographs and questions.
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Denny emphasised how his role as an Olympian had shaped his approach to life, and that the responsibility of being looked up to by kids had kept him on the right path.
“The kids give me a sense of having to hold a good standard, and there is a responsibility there to be a role model for them both on and off the track,” he said.
“It makes me more accountable for the decisions I make because I know that I influence those kids, and I just want to do the best by them and teach them the right thing to do.”
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