The Grill: Jana Rawlinson
Jana Rawlinson is looking good to take gold in the 400 hurdles at the World Athletics Championships. She talks about that and other issues with The Serve
Welcome Jana, we appreciate your time so close to your big 400 hurdles final…
My pleasure. It’s a good time, actually. Not getting ahead of myself but I’m expecting an avalanche of interviews after the race, so it’s good for me to knock one over now.
Speaking of interviews, after your win in the semi-final, you were very curt in your conversation with SBS reporter Emma Simkin. Why?
Didn’t like the question she asked me.
What was the question?
“Do you think you will win?”
OK. What’s wrong with that?
Didn’t like the tone. She asked me as if she was interrogating me. ‘Do you think you’ll win?’ Please. Here I am, moments after killing the opposition in the semi, and I get asked that? What’s wrong with starting a question with ‘When you win’?
That’s the problem with this country. Too many knockers.
Aah yes, you are of course based in England now. Obviously your husband is English, but you could have lived in Australia. Why the move?
The people really took to me straight away. So many English people came up to me in the street and said “Jana, we love seeing you on the tele. You’re one of us”.
I got so much of that just after the Athens Olympics.
Athens? Where you basically spent the lead up week crying and whinging?
Yep.
And you say that’s when the English took to you, after the whinging?
Yep. Said I was one of them.
I see. How’s motherhood?
Oh, I love it so much. It’s so rewarding to wake up every morning and spend time with my boy, you know, before I spend the next ten hours training.
You and Chris named him Cornelis. A unique name, any special significance to it?
Not really. We just wanted what’s best for our child, and we think the best way to bring up a child is to toughen them up. Worked for me.
And ‘Cornelis’ will do that?
Can you imagine what the other kids are going do with a name like Cornelis Rawlinson? Ha! He’s going to get real tough, real quick.
Any plans for another child?
I’m not going to give away too much, but let’s just say don’t be surprised if there’s a little Rasputin Rawlinson running around soon.
Thanks for your time, Jana. Good luck tonight.
You think I need luck, do you? Pfft. Typical Australian.
Interview may not have actually happened.
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