3 minute read
On track
World of opportunity
POUNDING THE TRACK IS MORE THAN JUST A CAREER FOR OLYMPIAN PETER BOL
WORDS SIOBHAN DUCK PHOTO JOSIE HAYDEN
Running has been Peter Bol’s golden ticket to seeing the world. It has taken him from Toowoomba to Birmingham and many places in between.
“I love culture and I love people,” says the Australian athlete, who recently won a silver medal in the 800m final at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in England. “(Through running) I get to make friends and learn about people and learn about different cultures.”
The Sudanese-born athlete says it was a “total culture shock” when his family, not knowing a word of English, immigrated to Australia via Egypt. He doesn’t remember much about his life before Australia but says his father’s stories about the Sudan conflict have helped keep things in perspective during his life and sporting career.
“If you want to talk about sports psychology, my mum and dad have been through so much and are so resilient,” he reflects.
“You speak to them when you are disappointed about a race and they’re like, ‘Well, there are far worse things that could be (happening)’.”
Although his birth name is Nagmeldin (part of which fittingly means star in Arabic) he became better known as Peter or “Bol” to his mates and, with his natural athleticism, he took up soccer, boxing and basketball.
“I never really thought about running at the Olympics (or Commonwealth Games) because it wasn’t really a thing for us,” he explains.
Ironically, he used to really struggle to watch races, despite his own talent.
“I struggled to enjoy a lot of things about it because I was into other sports like basketball,” he says.
“But to be better I had to learn to watch it and enjoy the sport itself because I was literally only in it for all the experiences around it.”
Switching his focus from basketball to running also required a change in mindset from team player to individual competitor.
“When you are part of a basketball team you share the wins but you also share the losses,” he says with a smile.
“So, when you are running it’s absolutely devastating when you lose.”
It was placing second in his school cross-country race — a reflection of his natural talent given he had done no training — that spurred Peter into taking running seriously. He didn’t just want to do well, he wanted to win.
“I have four brothers, so I am used to being competitive,” he says with his trademark humour.
As such, Peter sets himself extremely high standards and worked hard in a comparatively short amount of time to become an Olympian, and now a Commonwealth Games silver medallist. His Herculean effort at the Olympics in Tokyo last year — placing fourth — made him an Aussie hero.
“(When) I left the (Olympic) stadium I was super disappointed, but to come back and see the outpouring of love and support
ABOVE: Peter Bol’s sunny disposition is part of his success. INSET: Through running, Peter has made friends and learnt about people and different cultures.
that the country back home in Australia gave me, I just felt at peace. It was beautiful,” he says.
His Commonwealth Games achievement has been similarly “bittersweet” because he had set his sights on gold.
“I didn’t feel any pressure from the Australian public or the Australian team,” he reflects. “The only pressure I think I had was the expectations I put on myself because when you become an elite athlete you learn to switch everything off around you.”
But the Aussie champion is not one for regrets and credits his sunny disposition to being a crucial part of his success.
“You’ve got to get your mind right and that is literally just as simple as being happy,” he says.
