Michelle Jenneke takes on the world ’ s best
with Matt “ Duck Man ” Austin
Many look up to their heroes whether that be your average weekend warriors , professional athletes or former professionals . Olympians watching the Olympics often aspire to reach levels and achieve what most of us can only dream of . There are not too many people in the world who actually get to live that dream and represent their country at an Olympic games , let alone two , like this champion .
You will have heard of Michelle Jenneke , the dancing hurdler who did a little dance routine in the World Junior Track and Field Championships in Barcelona in 2012 prior to her 100m hurdle heat .
Michelle had previously represented Australia winning a silver medal at the 2010 100m hurdles in the Summer Youth Olympics , prior to the dance routine that made her a global phenomenon . This propelled Michelle into the exosphere , so few ever reach with 19 million views in one week on YouTube . Plus , she delivered results in the 2016 Australian
Championships with a 100m hurdles 1 st place finish .
This saw the girl from Kenthurst , a member of Cherrybrook Athletics Club , qualify for the Brazilian Olympics in which she ran a 13.26 100m hurdle race . This was well short of Australian champion Sally Pearson who had to pull out of the event due to a hamstring injury . Michelle never stopped competing and continued to carry the flag for Australia and the Hills District competing in the 2017 World Championships in London running a 13.25 in the 100m hurdles , a 13.07 100m hurdles at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in 2018 .
Michelle continued to race and give her all for the country in the red-hot world of the athletics circuit in Europe
and the US with her finishing a credible 11 th in the US in 2022 running a 12.66 in the 100m hurdles , 12.80 in the World
Michelle ’ s pre-race dance routine . Credit : Athletics Australia .
Championships in Budapest in 2023 in the 100m hurdles . Ultimately Michelle got her redemption story opportunity at the 2024 Paris Olympics with the win at the Australian Olympic trials .
Michelle was running good times and confident of going through to the semi-finals running a 12.65 in the 100m hurdles only weeks before the Olympics . When it came time to the big dance in the heats , it all started well with Michelle taking off and starting to get to an early lead before disaster struck and she cluttered into the 4th hurdle which caused problems with her crashing to the track , limiting her opportunity to go into the semi-finals .
She picked herself up off the ground and finished the race to show the proud Aussie spirit that we all dream of being able to display representing the green and gold .
This gave Michelle a second chance at attempting to qualify . However , she wanted to run the race to do herself proud , she had a ruptured hamstring that would require surgery to reattach the tendon to the bone . It was a spirited effort by Michelle to not only complete the run
Michelle ’ s 2024 Olympic heat race . Credit : Athletics Australia . but do it with a ruptured hamstring that would leave most people laid up and unable to walk , let alone compete at an international Olympic event , which will very likely be her last .
Michelle represented her country with aplomb and epitomised the Olympic ethos of higher , faster , stronger and represented the green and gold of Australia with pride .
She was also a fabulous ambassador for the Hills district .
Sydney Bears carve up the ice in the AIH
with Matt “ Duck Man ” Austin
The AIHL is heating up as we head into the finals which will see the Sydney Bears carry the flag against the best in Australia . The Sydney Bears share facilities with their local rivals , the Sydney Ice Dogs , and have once again worked their way into the finals .
They got through in 1st place in the Hellyer ladder with a very decisive 23 wins and 1 overtime win and 72 points to leave the 2nd best side in the Hellyer competition and Australia , Melbourne Ice , a considerable distance behind in 2nd place on 58 points with 18 wins and 2 overtime wins .
It was a dominant display throughout the season that regularly saw crowds bubbling up around the 2000 people mark to watch the Bears carve it up against rivals .
They have been steered from the front by import Adam Kadlec , who has led the way in the team and competition this year with goals and points . There was an impressive 70 points coming from 32 goals and 38 assists in 25 matches , where he has shown the potential that he demonstrated as a 16-year-old in Canada .
Unfortunately , injuries hampered his early promise as a young player , but the sea change to Australia to play for the Bears in the AIHL has helped him showcase the talent that will help take him to the top of the game .
The Bears were also led by another highly talented import Lucas Herrmann , from the Pensacola Ice Flyers in the Southern Professional Hockey League in the US . Lucas ended the season with 22 goals and 44 assists in 26 games for 66 points to give the Bears a very dominant forward line who have proved way too hot on the ice for the opposition .
Adding to the strength and depth of the Bears is 12- year veteran of the AIHL , spending his 9th year with the Bears in 2024 in his second stint Tomas Landa , who has shown his value on the ice . He helped the imports integrate into the side and competition , and rookie Brody Lindal who
Ryan Annesley in action . Credit : Pic by Wulos . made the move to the bears in 2024 after playing for Melbourne Ice to play under the tutelage of Head Coach Tyler Huberty . Eighteen-year-old Lindal is seen as a rising star of the AIHL .
The Bears have been equally as brutal in defence as in the forward line .
Captain Ryan Annesley is in his 8th year with the Sydney Bears hit his 100th game in May in the AIHL , and even at 38 years old is hopeful of bringing the Goodall Cup back to Sydney after losing the semi-final to the Melbourne Mustangs in 2023 who picked up a 1-0 victory last year in O ’ Brien Icehouse against Canberra Brave .
It hasn ’ t just been a big season on the ice for the Bears , but the whole AIHL picked up Hungry Jacks as a major sponsor for the final series , courtesy of some crafty work by the very experienced Director of Commercials for the league , Bob Turner .
Turner has brought his years of experience in the Australian sporting landscape in a variety of roles including Head Coach of Sydney Kings , Chairman of Blacktown City FC , former Chairman
Adam Kadlec . Credit : Pic by Wulos .
of Sydney Blue Sox baseball and also a Hall of Fame member of Australian Basketball for his significant contributions to coaching .
The Australian Ice Hockey League is on the way up , and with the success that we are seeing with the Sydney Bears , and the strong rivalry with the Sydney Ice Dogs , this can only help the Bears and the AIHL propel to higher levels in the future and bring quality ice hockey to the Sydney market .
THE HILLS INDEPENDENT theindependentmagazine . com . au ISSUE 111 // SEPTEMBER 2024 29