Maneta has given the disabled a new challenge !
I-Kiribati sportman Maneta Tekautu contacted the International Paralympic Committee towards the end of 2019. As a result, Kiribati was accepted as a member of the IPC family before Christmas. In addition the KNPC has been granted a wild card to participate in the Tokyo Olympics this year !
Those involved.
Living for many years, as a separate community, on Kiribati capital island, Tarawa, is a group of islanders with a variety of disabilities. They are independent but assisted and, reflecting the ethos of Kiribati and its christianity (with a small 'c' !), they look after and support each other. The group is known as "Te Toamatoa". Two men from the group are the shot putters who are due to travel to Tokyo. (It should be said here that there is a growing threat from the coronavirus, which started in China. It is possible that the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics might be postponed until 2021 - assuming that the virus has been eliminated by then ?)
All that has been published about them so far is that one is able to participate in the event while standing; while the other is not ambulant and needs to use a chair in the circle.
Complications and preparation.
For the standing athlete, how close he can get to using a full shot technique will depend on his mobility, co-ordination, balance and confidence.
The seated athlete will need to be secure in his chair so that he cannot fall out in the follow-through of his putting action. In addition, the chair must be sited and orientated so that, when he pushes and releases the implement, it lands in the legal, marked sector ! Obviously the chair will need to be fastened, maybe by a type of "guy-rope" system (similar to a tent), in the absence on Tarawa of a concrete circle equipped with the necessary metal screw fastenings.
Sports administrator Tekabwara Arobati has been contacted and, as a qualified throws coach, should be able to assist with improving both techniques. Shot putt technique starts with the foot movement and drive from the legs: this then is added to in quick succession by the pelvis, the back, the chest (developing torque by twisting), the shoulders, the straightening of the pushing arm, and finally by the fingers ! If possible, the release should happen at the highest possible height, followed by the body maintaining secure balance by a "recovery phase" involving a switch of feet.
The Challenge !
You will appreciate from the above what this means, even to the standing athlete. Can he move fast enough to cross the circle, or will he need to use a "standing" technique ? Plus the other factors mentioned above.
So imagine the challenge for the seated thrower ! He can get no initial drive from his legs so can only commence the push itself by lifting his pelvis. His upper body will be able to develop the torque by twisting away from the push, but how fast can he then use that torque to drive the shot up and away ? Hopefully Maneta, Tekabwara and Albert (from Fiji !) can sort out useable adaptations for the two men to use. (Albert Miller is an international multi-eventer, living and working in Fiji, who has visited Tarawa previously, is deeply involved with Athletics, and has been helping the Fijian Para athletes !)
You will be updated as this story grows !
Last Modified on 08/02/2020 12:32