The PB pasta that makes mighty Mali run faster

When New South Wales Institute of Sport (NSWIS) Paralympian Mali Lovell crossed the finish line and collected gold at the NSW Open Athletics Championships in the Women’s 200m Para, a podium finish wasn’t even her primary goal. 

“The main focus for me [right now] is refining the little one percenters, and being consistent up until mid-April, which is nationals [held in Perth],” Lovell said, fresh from a gym and massage session at NSWIS. 

“But it was good to post a good time in the 200m, it was really nice.” 

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The weekend prior, at the Sydney Track Classic, Lovell made history by breaking her own Australian record in the Women’s 100M T36 by 0.03 seconds, clocking in at 14.35. 

Despite back-to-back victories, the 20-year-old remains grounded, focused, and – as she puts it – still chasing the ‘perfect start’. 

“My start was probably the worst thing ever!” she exclaimed. 

Lovell credits her consistency to the high performance team at NSWIS, including Strength and Conditioning Practitioner Chris Brandner.  

“Chris is keeping me super strong which is the main thing,” she said. “He’s getting more drills for me to do in the gym. It’s really been helping me.” 

Lovell has also been working with Senior Biomechanics Practitioner Emma Millett to sharpen her starts on the track – an area she knows can make or break a race.  

“Emma said I had some room for improvement,” she conceded. “But in the last two weeks, she said my starts have improved quite a lot. So yeah, it’s really nice to see.” 

With the right support system in place, Lovell is unlocking a new level as an athlete. She credits her success at last year’s Paris Paralympic Games for giving her an even sharper edge. 

“Everywhere I go, it’s like ‘Paralympic bronze medalist!’,” she laughed. “But I think I’ve got more confidence than I did last year.” 

Some of that confidence might just come from what’s on her dinner plate. 

“This is a bit embarrassing, but my mum [Mel] makes me lasagna every single night before a comp,” she laughed. “We call it ‘PB lasagna’, and it doesn’t fail. It’s just so special. It’s yum.” 

Lovell first noticed the lasagna-to-PB pattern last year – and yes, she had it before her events in Paris, too.  

“It’s so funny because I actually had a lasagna before Paris, like before my 100m and 200m, and I did a PB then too.” 

Alongside lasagna, another pre-comp ritual is more visible: a coloured ribbon tied neatly into her plaited ponytail. 

Diagnosed with ataxia, a rare form of cerebral palsy that affects balance and coordination, Lovell spent her childhood afternoons pushing a wheelbarrow full of bricks up a hill in agony. Her mother Mel, who oversaw the hill sessions, insisted her daughter do this (despite Mali’s protests) to strengthen her legs after doctors said she would probably need to rely on a walking frame.  

The ‘wheelbarrow story’ conjures the image of Sisyphus from Greek mythology, who, as punishment, was forced to roll a boulder up a hill in the underworld only for it roll back down whenever he’d almost reached the top. The one-time King repeated this action for eternity.  

Unlike the tragic Sisyphus, Lovell turned her burden into strength, which, when combined with her inner fire and determination, fuelled a career others once said would be impossible.  

“It’s something I still think about now,” she said. “I was literally talking to my dad about it the other day, and we were like, ‘Oh my God, did I actually do that?’”. 

Told she’d never be a Paralympian, and encouraged by some to attend a special school, Lovell instead pushed forward with the support and devotion of her parents. 

“All my schoolteachers wanted me to go to a special school,” she said. “So, without the help of my parents, I probably wouldn’t be here. I appreciate that. 

“Mum will be down cooking dinner, and I’ll still be doing exercises that coaches have given me, because I just love doing stuff like that. I’m very passionate.” 

Lovell’s passion extends beyond her own goals. Since December, she’s been working as a disability support practitioner at the Cerebral Palsy Alliance, helping run children’s after-school programs in the sports department. 

“We’ve got a race running group,” she explained. “And we do a sport each term with activities that will help them achieve their skills. I really love doing it, it’s like blending socialisation and sports.” 

“When I finished school, I started volunteering there a few times a week. And then I got offered a casual job there. I’ve always wanted to work there.” 

The job is deeply personal. Lovell used to attend those same programs. Now, she’s the one guiding the next generation. 

“Being an athlete and helping them is just amazing because I used to do those groups when I was younger, and now I’m just being one of the people now to support them,” she said. 

“It’s a dream job.” 

Next stop: the Maurie Plant Meet in Melbourne, followed by nationals in Perth, and ultimately, her sights are set on the World Para Athletics Championships in New Delhi, India. 

“I’m really excited to keep being consistent and see what I can achieve,” she said. “Podium would be nice, as well as more world champs and maintaining my time.” 

She’s trying not to get too ahead of herself. 

“Eyes are on India at the moment, but I don’t want to put my hopes up too high.” 

However, travelling to India poses one problem for Lovell’s winning ritual.  

“I won’t be able to take lasagna to India,” she said with a laugh. “It might be butter chicken.” 

Story & Photos: Rachel Tingey, NSWIS