Commonwealth Games javelin gold medallist and Mandurah native Kim Mickle is trying her hand at a different sport, having signed with the Fremantle Dockers to be part of the first national women’s AFL league in 2017.
Mickle, 31, who competed in javelin at the Rio Olympics, joins priority picks Ebony Antonio and Kirby Bentley and fellow rookie Gabby O’Sullivan in Fremantle’s squad.
Mickle played mixed football as a junior but pursued athletics after her mother became worried she would get injured playing against boys.
“I’ve always wanted to play football but it wasn’t available back then…it’s cool that it has sprung up and become an elite sport,” Mickle said.
“I can’t wait to give it a go.”
Despite dislocating her shoulder at her third throw in the javelin qualification round at Rio, the Mickle is likely to be ready for Fremantle’s pre-season following recent surgery.
Fremantle’s national women’s league, academies and community manager Wade Spilcker believes Mickle’s experience in elite level competition will have her well placed to meet the demands of an AFL player.
“Kim not only brings existing football skills with her but the desire and competitiveness of a professional athlete that will be of great benefit to the entire team,” Spilcker said.
Mickle said she is aware of the challenges that moving to a more aerobically based sport might present.
“I think I’ve got my work cut out for me,” she said.
“My work ethic is amazing – I literally won’t stop and like everyone saw in Rio, my shoulder popped out.
“But my biggest fault is that I overtrain.”
However Mickle expects her evolution into a footballer to be made easier by the move into a team-based environment.
“Coming into the club for a training session, I am going to be beaming because there is going to be 20 other girls doing the same thing as me instead of me doing it by myself,” she said.
“The hardest thing about javelin throwing is that I do 14 sessions a week, I get one day off on a Sunday and most of my sessions are done by myself or with one other training partner.”
Mickle comes from a footballing background; her dad played for West Perth and her brother was a development coach for Peel Thunder.
She also had a lifelong interest in playing the game, but was limited by opportunity.
- Via fremantlefc.com.au
