Australian walker Jared Tallent believes he’s well-placed to repeat his Olympic double medal heroics in London.
Already assured of a spot in the 50km race courtesy of his bronze medal effort at last year’s world championships in South Korea, Tallent also booked his place in the Olympic 20km race by winning the trial over the weekend.
And it was another double celebration for the family, with wife Claire Tallent winning the women’s race on a brutally hot day in Hobart.
Four years ago in Beijing, Tallent became the first Australian male track and field athlete in more than a century to win two individual medals at the one Olympic meet when he finished second in the 50km race and third in the 20km.
And even though most of the other elite walkers around the world now specialise in one event, Tallent sees no reason why he can’t again claim a spot on the podium in both races in London.
“It is pretty rare, although historically the Australians have done both,” said the 27-year-old.
“Going back a few years, Simon Baker used to do it and Luke Adams and Nathan Deakes (who now favour the longer race) did both of them too.
“The Aussies are just tougher I guess.”
Tallent clocked a winning time of one hour 23 minutes and one second in the Oceania race walking championship event in Hobart ahead of countryman Chris Erickson (1:24:12) and Canada’s Inaki Gomez.
In the women’s race, Claire Tallent (1:32:58) and fellow Australian Regan Lamble can book their tickets for London after claiming the top two spots.
Youngster Beki Lee – who was fourth in Hobart – is well-placed to claim the third spot in the 20km walk as the only other Australian woman to have bettered the A qualifying standard.
Tallent did it tough on a day when the temperature reached 38 degrees, as she was out in front on her own for much of the race.
“Jared and I are both thrilled to have won,” she said.
“And the younger girls stepped up too.
“There were thoughts in my mind that I wouldn’t make the team at all so to get in with the win is awesome.”
Jared and Claire Tallent are racing again next weekend in Chihuahua, Mexico.
