Nina Kennedy Aims for Gold at Paris Olympics

Nina Kennedy, Australia’s top female pole vaulter, is all set to chase the gold medal at the upcoming Paris Olympics, and this time, she’s not sharing it with anyone.

Last year, Kennedy made headlines when she and American pole vaulter Katie Moon decided to share a gold medal at the Budapest World Championships. It was a heartwarming moment in sportsmanship that drew admiration from fans everywhere.

While Kennedy has no regrets about that decision, she’s feeling a fire in her belly now. ‘I am definitely going for that outright gold medal,’ she told ABC Sport. Looking back, she feels sharing the gold in Budapest came from a place of self-doubt, but she’s ready to change that narrative.

The prospect of winning Olympic gold is on her mind every single day. Kennedy is more confident than ever and is gearing up for peak performance just in time for the Games.

She’s been open about her struggles with mental health and believes these challenges shaped her decision to share the win in Budapest. ‘I think [sharing the gold] reflected maybe where I was at in that part of my career with my self-belief,’ Kennedy shared.

Now, thanks to significant personal growth, Kennedy feels she’s a different athlete compared to when she faced disappointment at the Tokyo Olympics, where she missed out on the final.

Kennedy’s new mindset allows her to see that her self-worth isn’t tied to her performance. ‘I could win and I’m still a great person, and I could lose and I’m still a great person,’ she emphasizes.

As Kennedy prepares for the Olympics, she distinguishes between expectations and goals, focusing on what she can control. ‘The expectations are things that are 100 percent in my control, what I’m going to do out there,’ she said.

With a sense of calm and excitement, Kennedy is ready to take on the world. ‘I don’t want to walk away with any regrets. I want to go out there and roll the dice,’ she said. The hard work is done, and now, it’s time for the fun part.