The Jerseyman has been nursing a wrist injury since the beginning of 2015 – one which prevents him from throwing the shot on a regular basis – and as the deadline for Rio 2016 qualification approaches he has switched focus back to discus in an attempt to reach what many regard as the pinnacle competition in world athletics.
“I need to throw 65 metres twice and finish in the top two at the British Championships” – Zane Duquemin
‘The injury has been plaguing me since the start of last season, and it has got worse to the point where I can’t throw the shot … so I’m back to focusing on discus,’ Duquemin explained.
Duquemin has seen his discus performances drop since he threw a lifetime best of 63.46 metres in 2012, but following his two gold medal-winning displays at the NatWest Island Games in July changes have been made, both on and off the track.
Despite UK Athletics’ refusal to accept the IAAF’s Olympic invites for the world’s top 32 (when the number of qualified athletes falls below the minimum required), Duquemin remains confident he can overcome the setbacks and meet the 65-metre Rio 2016 qualifying standard.
‘It would be OK if I could go on the invite system, but yet again UK Athletics is not going with that, so I need to throw 65 metres twice and finish in the top two at the British Championships,’ he added.
