Steve Hooker

Gold medal win yet to sink in: Hooker 2008 Beijing Olympic Games : "Sleepless Steve Hooker says becoming the first Australian male to win an Olympic track and field gold medal in 40 years still hasn't sunk in."

Steve Hooker has just created history but he has had us all sitting on the edge of our chairs. The last chance man and yet there is nothing accidental about him. I got drawn into watching him in the heats because he was doing a lot of careful preparation before the jump. You could see the mental preparation and methodical thinking he had. You could see him centring himself and then he took off and his pants seemed too big for him, I thought he would miss...and he did . He hit his chest on the bar just by a fraction. The second attempt was similar but it was his knees and then the third jump was just plain awesome and he got through to the final. It is as though he is calibrating himself when he goes through the first 2 attempts. It is a way of measuring his performance and then the third shot at the pole vault is just magical. I have been delighted to learn about these unknown athletes. We didn't even know Steven Hooker and yet he is representing us...and winning gold for us. I like him. I like his open , fuss free approach. I like how he takes nothing for granted but does all within his power to succeed...and when he jumps, it is just beautiful to watch. There is a real grace about him.