Tom the Tool Man: Tom Walsh is still building his shot put legacy. Photo / Photosport
Tom the Tool Man: Tom Walsh is still building his shot put legacy. Photo / Photosport
Tom Walsh is back on the tools this year – but it's for a special project.
The two-time Olympic medallist, who was a popular figure on Timaru building sites at the start of his shot put career, has been a fully professional athlete since 2017.
But while still completely focusedon his sport, Walsh is chipping away on what could be New Zealand's biggest garden shed, far from the typical outhouse most of us might be used to.
"I haven't done it by halves," laughs Walsh. "It's 22m long, by 7m wide and 5.5 high. It's a big shed."
It will sit on the 10 acre property Walsh owns with his girlfriend Dana and sounds like the stuff of fantasy for many males.
"There'll be a gym on one end, that I can train in and also throw out of and a workshop for all my tools," explains Walsh, who hopes it will be finished by November.
"Above the workshop there will be a man cave, where I'll also keep my athletics stuff. Then there is two bays for storage, with the tractor, mower and other bits and pieces. I'm pretty excited about it."
Tom Walsh is chipping away on what could be New Zealand's biggest garden shed, far from the typical outhouse most of us might be used to. Photo / Supplied
He has been revitalised by his post-Olympics coaching change, opting to take more control of his programme after a decade under the astute guidance of Dale Stevenson.
The recent Government decision to open the border was a massive boost, as it will allow Walsh to have some extra time at home after the World Indoor Championships next month – with his support network – rather than being based overseas for an extended period in an already hectic year.
"I would have done it but it would have been very tricky," says Walsh. "Now I can have a wee bit of a reload phase rather than being in America, probably by myself, for a long stint of time."
And the 28-year-old has enjoyed a productive offseason, tracking towards the best shape of his life.
The signs are good. It's generally accepted that male shot putters peak in their late 20s and early 30s and Walsh is ready to make history in 2022, hoping to exceed the magical 23m barrier for the first time.
After a couple of difficult seasons for Walsh, mainly due to all the Covid-related disruption, the stars could align in 2022.
Tom Walsh has had a productive offseason. Photo / Photosport
Only three men in history have managed 23m.
East German Ulf Timmermann set the world record in 1988 with a 23.06 heave, before American Randy Barnes beat that mark twice in 1990 (23.10 and 23.12).
Three decades later, Ryan Crouser eclipsed Barnes' effort last June with a staggering 23.37 and the double Olympic champion has topped 23m on three other occasions.
It's the Everest of men's shot put but Walsh is confident.
"There is no reason why I can't," said Walsh. "Physically I'm getting in the best shape of my life and coming into the next five-six months, I need to be, to have a chance of winning. And I bloody hate losing.
"I'm getting closer to some of the numbers, whether it is the 10m sprint, vertical jump, bench press or a squat that we believe we need to hit to be capable of throwing that. Then it is about figuring a way of getting those numbers into the ball; that is the tricky part."
Since setting a massive personal best of 22.90 at the 2019 World Championships in Doha, Walsh has only cleared 22m five times, with his 22.47 at the Tokyo Olympics the standout, but says it is important to look beyond the bare numbers.
"Someone told me the other day, 'Well, you haven't improved in two years'," said Walsh. "Yes if you look at the distance, in terms of my personal best, I'm not disagreeing with that.
"But I threw PBs with the 6.5, 6.75 and 7 kg shot in training last year. I hit PBs in the gym. I just wasn't able – because of a lot of additional stress and anxiety that I could have dealt with better - to get them into the shot.
"There are no real secrets, it's just a lot of hard bloody work. It's what you do when the cameras aren't on you that determines how good you are going to be and that is what I am good at."
Tom Walsh after winning bronze at the Tokyo Olympics. Photo / Photosport
Most importantly the 2017 world champion is still excited by his sport; the travel, the challenge, the competition, the camaraderie.
"I love what I do," said Walsh. "I learnt that last year again. I still like working out the puzzle of trying to throw far and I love it when someone tells me I can't do something because I love proving them wrong."
Walsh will soon compete in Europe, starting with his title defence at the world indoor championships in Serbia (18-20 March). After returning home for a training block (and perhaps a bit more labour on the shed) he'll set off for the United States in May, ahead of the world championships in Oregon (15-24 July), with the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham shortly afterwards (28 July-8 August).
"There's a lot to come," says Walsh. "This is the time of year to be patient and wait for the gains to come into the shot."
