Three of Tasmania's leading para athletes are gearing up for their biyearly shot at world championship glory with Deon Kenzie, Todd Hodgetts and Sam Walker representing each region of the state.
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Described as a leader of the 35-athlete outfit, Launceston's Hodgetts will compete in the F20 shot put early Sunday morning (Tastime) as one of the medal favourites in Dubai.
"I've never had a full-time job, this has been it since I was 10 years of age. It's not all about money, it's about honour - representing the best nation in the world which is Australia," the 31-year old former Brooks High School student told Channel 7.
"I train like an animal, I don't muck around when I train. This is my life, if I didn't have shot putting I wouldn't be here today."
ELSEWHERE IN SPORT
Gold medallist at the 2012 London Paralympics and a bronze medallist four years later in Rio de Janeiro, the Victorian resident believes the key to victory is staying positive.
"I'm one of the greats now. It's hard to be a world champion and Paralympic champion but it's even harder to stay there.
"You've got to take every shot because somebody will take your dream, you can't let this happen. Every time you put this shirt on, you're creating history - win, lose or draw - that's what Kurt Fearnley said to me."
Joining the man branded as shot put's Incredible Hulk will be Forth distance runner Kenzie, who will be competing in the 1500 metres.
Making his international debut at the 2013 world championships the 23-year-old, who runs under a T38 classification due to his cerebral palsy, will only run over the one distance having also competed in the 800 in the past.
Kenzie, 23, comes into the event as the defending world champion after picking up bronze in his 2013 and 2015 attempts and will get underway with a qualifying heat on the morning of Friday, November 15.
Seventeen-year-old Walker will be one of the rare athletes who combines both track and field competition in his maiden senior world championships, having competed at the inaugural junior event in 2015.
Coached by Evan Peacock, the Southern star will compete in both the T38 100m and the F38 shot put, hitting the track early on Monday morning.
Despite his age, Walker comes into the championships with previous international experience, having been one of the youngest members of the Australian team at the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast.
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