Mighty Mali ready to nail World Para Athletics Championships

If victory in Mali Lovell’s 100m T36 or 200m T 36 races at the World Para Athletics Championships in New Delhi, India should come down to a fingernail, her sparkling gold nails – painted especially for the championships – and which boast a green star on each hand is guaranteed to dazzle the judges!

Lovell, who won a silver medal for the 200m T36 at the 2023 world championships in Paris, and then a bronze in both the 100 and 200m T36 events at last year’s Paris Paralympic Games, is preparing to add to her collection in New Dehli – but, she concedes the competition will be tough.

Before flying out for her latest international campaign, mighty Mali, a NSWIS favourite, shared her thoughts on her goals, the freedom she feels during a race, the ascent of rising star Gout Gout, and the thrill of seeing a ‘sister’ compete at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.

NSWIS: Mali, this is you’re third World Para Athletics Championships campaign, so you’re a veteran. Can you tell us what the pressure, the nerves, the noise, and living in an Athlete’s Village is like?

Mali Lovell [ML]: I really enjoy it now. I have a lot of friends [in sport] so I really like it. It’s a good vibe over there.  Most of my friends are in different classifications, so I hang out with people who do different events. We’re al good friends.

NSWIS: In saying that, who is your biggest rival going into these championships. I think there might be a certain Kiwi we might be talking about.

ML: Definitely Danielle Aitchison [New Zealand] and possibly Veronica Hipolito from Brazil. She’ll be a massive threat in the 100m. I’m hoping to get near her in that event.

NSWIS: What are your goals for the world champs?

ML: To be on the podium for the 200m. I have a shot in the 100m to get on the podium – but, if I don’t, I feel as though I will definitely PB.

NSWIS: You train very hard. You must be confident in your preparation going over there.

ML: I’m really excited to see what I can do in the 100m and the 200. Since [winning bronze for the 200m at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games] I keep doing the same recovery over and over again, things like wearing recovery boots, and it helps. I like to dip my legs in the pool I winter [to help recovery].

NSWIS: Can you explain what the feeling of running fast is like for you with the whole world watching you?

ML: It makes me feel as though I can go as fast as I want. I feel free when I run – it feels awesome to do that. I just do what I want to  do [in the race]. I go out hard, maintain that [speed] and if I can, go faster.

NSWIS: You said one of the first people you ring after a race is your coach, Katie Edwards. You must have a strong bond.

ML: She is like everything. She’s been my coach for the last eight or nine years.

NSWIS: And Katie’s daughter is Kristie Edwards, another NSWIS scholarship athlete. You trained alongside each other for a while, so what did it mean for you to see her run at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo?

ML: Well, on the track seeing Kristie run is like having another sister running, especially because she runs the same event the 200m at the world championships. For me to see her running fast, it’s awesome.

NSWIS: What do you think when you see someone like Gout Gout run?

ML: Gout Gout’s insane, bro! He’s only 17 and he runs the 200 in only 20 seconds! It’s crazy . . . very exciting to see.

NSWIS: All the best for the world championships, Mali. Everyone at NSWIS will be cheering you on.

ML: Thank you very much.

Daniel Lane, NSWIS