WAIS shooting athlete Pam McKenzie returned home from the New Delhi Commonwealth Games recently with a silver medal and a lot of fond memories.
As one of the most experienced members of the WA contingent of 38 athletes who travelled to India, McKenzie’s resume already read like a book having represented Australia in World Cups, Commonwealth Games and Olympic campaigns.
Competing in the women’s pairs 10m air pistol, McKenzie and her partner Dina Aspandiyarova were left in a three way tie (759 points) following the culmination of competition. They were awarded silver on countback behind India’s Heena Sidhu and Annu Raj Singh with Canada’s Lynda Hare and Dorothy Ludwig taking bronze.
For McKenzie there was contrasting feelings immediately after competition, with immense pride in winning a medal for her country sobered slightly by the knowledge that her and Aspandiyarova had been within a point of gold.
“After a slow start, score wise, my coach called me off the line to give mesomeadvice,” McKenzie revealed.
“My score crept up and I stabilized.I stepped off line with mixed feelingsof myperformance, not so happy that I had a below average score, but on the other hand I had recovered to improve towards the end.I hadn’t realised thatDina and myself were only one point off gold.”
“It was incredible really,” she said.
After the controversy that preceded the Delhi Games, which included health and security threats and athletes opting to miss the spectacle, the Dawesville resident felt that the longer legacy for Delhi would be one more of triumph rather than criticism.
“My Delhi experience was very good.The Indian volunteers were friendly, the food was great, the weather was lovely and warm,” she said, adding”the Games security was very good indeed, well done to India for such a great games.”
Having gone so close to Commonwealth gold, McKenzie admits the fire remains in the belly, with London in 2012 now firmly in the crosshair.
“When you’re on the line competing you are only concerned about your process and technique. Ihave theopportunity now to put together a brilliant plan for brilliant results in London.”
