New High for Hooker

[rainbowgirl28]

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/st ... 02,00.html

New high for Games vaulting star

Debbie Guest | January 26, 2009

Article from: The Australian
HAVING reaching the height of success at the Beijing Olympics last year, pole vaulter Steve Hooker has his eyes on his sport's next biggest prize, this year's world championships.

After a three-month post-Olympics training regime, the gold medallist will spend Australia Day preparing for his first pole-vaulting competition since the Beijing Games, the Millrose Games in New York.

The competition kicks off a four-week tour of international events before the 26-year-old returns to Brisbane for the Australian championships in March.

"There's a lot of things I haven't done, and those are the things that I'm focusing on at the moment," Hooker said.

"I'm just trying to look forward and not backward, and try and improve."

Hooker's Olympic success - he was the first Australian man to win an Olympic field event in 60years - has been honoured with a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM). He is one of 22 Olympians recognised for their feats, including gold medallists swimmer Stephanie Rice and diver Matthew Mitcham.

Also receiving the OAM are 20 paralympians who won their first gold medals in Beijing.

According to the honours committee, Hooker represented the country in an exemplary manner and brought great credit to himself, the Australian Olympic team and the nation.

Hooker said it was encouraging to know there had been an increase in the number of children taking up athletics and pole-vaulting since he won gold.

"I've had parents tell me they had kids join Little Athletics because of what they saw me do at the Olympics," he said.