Taryn Gollshewsky wins gold in discus at 2022 Athletics National Championships, after miraculous comeback

Only 10 months ago, discus thrower Taryn Gollshewsky's Olympic dream was shattered when she broke her leg playing soccer in the lead up to Tokyo.     

The Bundaberg local had to learn to walk again — but now, after only 10 weeks of training, she has taken out gold at the 2022 Australian Athletics Championships, held in Sydney at the weekend.

When Taryn picked up the discus to compete for the first time in almost a year, her only goal was to find the joy in the sport she loves.

«My coach and I are certainly still in a rebuilding phase after my injury,» Ms Gollshewsky said.

«Going into these Nationals, the only aspiration was really to enjoy it and have fun.

»To walk away as a national champion was a little bit of a surprise but an absolute honour."

The 29-year-old was sensationally sidelined from Olympic preparations when she broke her leg during a soccer match in the Wide Bay.

«I was bed ridden for two-and-a-half weeks and then I was on crutches for about eight weeks,» she said. 

«I spent six months rebuilding, so I wasn't actually allowed to throw until the eight-month mark.

»It's been a very long journey, a very emotional one of course as well."

But the long recovery process was essential to save history from repeating.

Now, the elite athlete's comeback story has her well-poised to compete at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

«With discus I am rotating, and I am twisting – so with the torque and the rotational forces that go through my leg, I was at risk of re-breaking my leg,» Ms Gollshewsky said.

«I still have some physical limitations and there is still a little bit of pain associated with that injury, but we're on the way up which is really positive.»

Despite her victory at the weekend, Ms Gollshewsky said her gold-winning throw was