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Aug. 9—Simon Rosselli has gone from a state champion to a world champion in less than three months.
And he did so Sunday afternoon in the most dramatic fashion, popping an American national record discus throw of 66.39 meters (217 feet, 9 inches) to win the World Athletics Congress U20 championship at the University of Oregon's Hayward Field in Eugene.
With his gold medal around his neck and an American flag draped over his shoulders, Rosselli answered questions from the media. He was grateful to have won Sunday, but he took a few moments to express how heartbroken he was for friends and family affected by the Spokane Complex fires the past week.
The Rossellis, who live near the Autumn Lane fire off 5 Mile, were evacuated from their home Aug. 2, and they just received confirmation Sunday that their home is still standing and they can return to it when they travel back to Spokane.
"That's heavy," Rosselli said when asked about the fires. "Spokane's gone through a lot but Spokane bands together. That's what they do. We have friends who aren't out of danger yet. It's devastating.
"Things will turn around. It may not be this year, it may not be next year. But Spokane will be back."
After making the final field of 13 in a qualifying round that included 29 on Saturday, Rosselli took the lead on the first of six throws.
Then he watched as thrower after thrower put up personal bests, and suddenly Rosselli was sitting in fifth just before his final throw.
"Walking into the ring, I had one more chance," Rosselli said. "I had nothing to lose. I've said it a few times that if it's going to come down to a competition, I'm taking me every time. I love the competition, I love to compete."
Rosselli was equally confident and nervous seconds before his final throw.
"Before I even walked into the ring, I knew I had it," Rosselli said. "I knew what I needed to change. I knew what I needed to do differently. All I had to do was go out there and execute."
Rosselli broke the American record by more than three feet. Mason Finley had the previous mark (214-4). He set it on July 31, 2009.
"Not once all season did I not prepare for this to be my last meet," Rosselli said.
As it turns out, it will be Rosselli's last competition with a 1.75 kilogram discus. He turned 19 years old in June so he ages out of the U20 division.
Beginning in the fall, Rosselli will start training with the 2kg implement that he will use when he begins his collegiate career at Oregon. He moves into his apartment in Eugene on Aug. 21, but it's going to be a while before he throws a discus. It's time for a well-earned break.
"It's been the longest season I've ever had," Rosselli said.
Rosselli praised his coach, IronWood director TJ Crater, for helping him in Eugene. It's the first competition that Crater has been able to attend, and he chose the right time to be on hand.
"It meant the world to have him here," Rosselli said, not realizing the pun he just uttered. "I wouldn't have done what I did if he wasn't there. His guidance on what to change and what to do differently was vital to me winning."
Crater had a simple thought he shared with Rosselli moments before his final throw.
"What he told me was to drive and relax. To normal people that wouldn't make much sense," Rosselli said. "I knew exactly what he meant in the moment and I was able to go out there and get it done."
Rosselli said Crater meant to let the momentum of the throw drive him through his technique without pulling his chest or head through the throw.
"Being patiently aggressive is another way of saying it," Rosselli said. "To end with a national record and stand on a world championship is definitely not the wrong way to end the season."
Crater said everything went according to script Sunday — even the dramatic finish.
"Simon competed until the very end," Crater said. "He had some good throws the first few rounds and started to press a little bit, trying to go real big. All we talked about before the last throw was he needed to relax a little bit. The competition was crazy."
Crater didn't have a doubt.
"I had a few heart attacks along the way, but I knew what he was capable of," Crater said. "I would have preferred it if he had done it on his first throw. But for him to get in there (the ring), with the crowd behind him, and answer the way he did with such confidence and just the way he attacked the throw, it was special. It's a memory he's going to have the rest of his life for sure."
Rosselli is looking forward to some rest. He'll continue to work in the weight room, but he's not going anywhere near an implement.
"I need an offseason," Rosselli said. "It's been maybe one of the longest seasons I'll ever have. It's been very difficult. I need to let my body rest."
Sunday could prove to be profitable in many ways for Rosselli. The world title and American record will likely increase his name, image and likeness (NIL) package at Oregon.
Rosselli soared past Sten-Erik Iir of Estonia on the final throw. Iir took second (65.42) and Joseph Richard Salmon of Jamaica (64.37), the pre-meet favorite, was third.
Continue reading...
And he did so Sunday afternoon in the most dramatic fashion, popping an American national record discus throw of 66.39 meters (217 feet, 9 inches) to win the World Athletics Congress U20 championship at the University of Oregon's Hayward Field in Eugene.
With his gold medal around his neck and an American flag draped over his shoulders, Rosselli answered questions from the media. He was grateful to have won Sunday, but he took a few moments to express how heartbroken he was for friends and family affected by the Spokane Complex fires the past week.
The Rossellis, who live near the Autumn Lane fire off 5 Mile, were evacuated from their home Aug. 2, and they just received confirmation Sunday that their home is still standing and they can return to it when they travel back to Spokane.
"That's heavy," Rosselli said when asked about the fires. "Spokane's gone through a lot but Spokane bands together. That's what they do. We have friends who aren't out of danger yet. It's devastating.
"Things will turn around. It may not be this year, it may not be next year. But Spokane will be back."
After making the final field of 13 in a qualifying round that included 29 on Saturday, Rosselli took the lead on the first of six throws.
Then he watched as thrower after thrower put up personal bests, and suddenly Rosselli was sitting in fifth just before his final throw.
"Walking into the ring, I had one more chance," Rosselli said. "I had nothing to lose. I've said it a few times that if it's going to come down to a competition, I'm taking me every time. I love the competition, I love to compete."
Rosselli was equally confident and nervous seconds before his final throw.
"Before I even walked into the ring, I knew I had it," Rosselli said. "I knew what I needed to change. I knew what I needed to do differently. All I had to do was go out there and execute."
Rosselli broke the American record by more than three feet. Mason Finley had the previous mark (214-4). He set it on July 31, 2009.
"Not once all season did I not prepare for this to be my last meet," Rosselli said.
As it turns out, it will be Rosselli's last competition with a 1.75 kilogram discus. He turned 19 years old in June so he ages out of the U20 division.
Beginning in the fall, Rosselli will start training with the 2kg implement that he will use when he begins his collegiate career at Oregon. He moves into his apartment in Eugene on Aug. 21, but it's going to be a while before he throws a discus. It's time for a well-earned break.
"It's been the longest season I've ever had," Rosselli said.
Rosselli praised his coach, IronWood director TJ Crater, for helping him in Eugene. It's the first competition that Crater has been able to attend, and he chose the right time to be on hand.
"It meant the world to have him here," Rosselli said, not realizing the pun he just uttered. "I wouldn't have done what I did if he wasn't there. His guidance on what to change and what to do differently was vital to me winning."
Crater had a simple thought he shared with Rosselli moments before his final throw.
"What he told me was to drive and relax. To normal people that wouldn't make much sense," Rosselli said. "I knew exactly what he meant in the moment and I was able to go out there and get it done."
Rosselli said Crater meant to let the momentum of the throw drive him through his technique without pulling his chest or head through the throw.
"Being patiently aggressive is another way of saying it," Rosselli said. "To end with a national record and stand on a world championship is definitely not the wrong way to end the season."
Crater said everything went according to script Sunday — even the dramatic finish.
"Simon competed until the very end," Crater said. "He had some good throws the first few rounds and started to press a little bit, trying to go real big. All we talked about before the last throw was he needed to relax a little bit. The competition was crazy."
Crater didn't have a doubt.
"I had a few heart attacks along the way, but I knew what he was capable of," Crater said. "I would have preferred it if he had done it on his first throw. But for him to get in there (the ring), with the crowd behind him, and answer the way he did with such confidence and just the way he attacked the throw, it was special. It's a memory he's going to have the rest of his life for sure."
Rosselli is looking forward to some rest. He'll continue to work in the weight room, but he's not going anywhere near an implement.
"I need an offseason," Rosselli said. "It's been maybe one of the longest seasons I'll ever have. It's been very difficult. I need to let my body rest."
Sunday could prove to be profitable in many ways for Rosselli. The world title and American record will likely increase his name, image and likeness (NIL) package at Oregon.
Rosselli soared past Sten-Erik Iir of Estonia on the final throw. Iir took second (65.42) and Joseph Richard Salmon of Jamaica (64.37), the pre-meet favorite, was third.
Continue reading...
