Aussie javelin champion Mackenzie Little talks dreams and discipline

Mackenzie Little is a prominent figure in Australian athletics, known for her exceptional skill in javelin. Her career has brought her to competitions all over the world, including the prestigious Olympic Games, wearing proudly the green and gold of Australia.

Her recent victory at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest earned her a well-deserved bronze medal. Her other achievements include a silver medal in the Commonwealth Games, top eight at the Olympic Games and top eight at World Championships.

Mackenzie Little’s remarkable journey into the world of athletics started when she was only six years old, when she first stepped onto the track for Little Athletics in Sydney. Her passion for sports was evident, extending beyond individual sports to team sports like soccer and hockey.

However, it was this special rainy day during her Year 7 at Pymble Ladies’ College that would kickstart her journey to becoming one of the best javelin throwers in the world.

With her hurdles event cancelled, Mackenzie took the chance to try javelin for the very first time. In that training session, her coach was left impressed by her talents. From that moment forward, Mackenzie’s dedication and hard work have taken her on an extraordinary javelin journey, from a small beginning to the world stage of athletics.

INSPIRATION

Many top athletes have someone who inspires them and motivates them to strive for the best. In Mackenzie’s case, she draws inspiration from her fellow javelin throwers, both from Australia and across the globe, as well as her coaches. When she was just starting javelin, Mackenzie didn’t know many javelin throwers, her motivation therefore came from the collective achievements of her peers.

“Watching my javelin friends throw,” said Mackenzie, “inspires me to rise up to that same standard.”

MINDSET

Mackenzie, like most of us, would feel pressure from time to time. She recalls a nerve-racking memory from an AMEB trumpet exam, where feeling nervous made it hard for her to even make a sound.

As she advanced in her sport career, sport psychology played a crucial role in helping her deal with the pressure of competing at the elite level.

One of the techniques that Mackenzie practices is deliberate focused breathing.

“Breathing in for five counts and holding it for five and breathing out for five counts,” Mackenzie explained.

This helps her to reset her mental composure after each throw. Mackenzie also shared how she prepares herself mentally just before her throw.

“I focus on just one or two key aspects of my technique and that’s it. Then I aim to relax. I count the steps of my run-up, saying ‘1, 2: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8’ in my head”.

Mackenzie added, “I also remind myself to smile, because a little smile helps me remember to enjoy myself, which is really important.”

SETTING GOALS

Mackenzie says that her strategy for setting goals is to set small, achievable goals like stepping stones, leading towards a bigger one.

“I set little goals on my training and aim to do my sprints a little bit faster than last time,” she said. “When it comes to studying, I get little things done like my homework for a particular subject and then move on to the next thing.”

She adds, “If you think about big goals like, ‘I want to win the Olympics’, it can become very overwhelming.”

A master of juggling, Mackenzie has a busy lifestyle, not only that she trains six days a week, but she is also studying to become a doctor at the University of Sydney. It is extraordinary for one to excel in both an elite sport and the demanding field of medicine.

She explains, “Medicine is very important to me and so is javelin. That’s why I do both. But at the same time, it is important to relax to make sure that you have a balanced life.”

To relax, Mackenzie enjoys going to the beach with her friends and doing some baking, especially her signature cinnamon scroll.

Mackenzie’s message to young athletes and non-athletes:

“Keep your doors open for different opportunities. You never know what lies ahead in life. Having lots of different exciting things in your life is a very good thing.”

She also adds, “Once you commit on something, really focus to do the best you can. Working hard is very important.”

Writers’ note on the interview:

We are very privileged to have been given the opportunity to speak with Mackenzie Little. Her amazing talents and achievements are only matched by her down-to-earth nature. When we mentioned her as a role model to young people like us, she was humble about it, and it made us admire her even more. She was very generous with her time, especially with her busy schedule and the time difference between San Francisco and Sydney makes it a little bit trickier.

She promised to meet us with her famous cinnamon scrolls once she is back from San Francisco, we are so looking forward to it. In all honesty, we want to see her javelin throw in person one day and maybe we can also take up javelin.

We wish Mackenzie the very best for her study and her preparation for the Olympics in 2024.