Coaching race walkers is a passion for Fran Attard. 47533
By Mara Pattison-Sowden
FERNTREE Gully resident Fran Attard has been coaching little athletes from across Knox, the Dandenongs and the Yarra Valley for more than 10 years.
Her husband attests to this, joking he is a “little aths widower”.
But Mrs Attard said she couldn’t have done it without the help and support of her family.
Race walking is more than a century old, and has been an Olympic sport since 1904.
Mrs Attard’s passion for race walking began when she was nine-years old.
“I fell in love with race walking when I was a child, highly inspired by my own coach Alan Johnson,” she said.
She coaches race walking three nights a week and Sundays at the Knox Little Athletics Centre in Ferntree Gully, and competitions are often held on Saturdays and Wednesday nights.
“My race walkers compete all year round, with a focus on regional and then state finals,” she said.
Several of her walkers have broken state records, and won national competitions.
“The effort they put in is amazing. I just love seeing how much they love doing it,” she said. “They come to me after the race and can’t wait to tell me they broke a record.”
Mrs Attard said it’s a great sport because anyone can do it, from the age of five to 85, boys or girls.
“The boys are very competitive. They just want to tear down there while I’m screaming at them to walk,” she said. “But once they get the hang of it, they don’t forget it. The leg must be straight,” she said.
Race walkers from across Australia will descend on Canberra for the annual federation walking championships on 13 June around Lake Burley Griffin.
Readers can find out more about race walking at the Knox Little Athletics Centre on www.klac23.org.au.
