Australian hurdler Jana Rawlinson makes winning leap

by auditioning contributor Jamey:

Australian athlete Jana Pittman Rawlinson, 24, won her second world championship gold medal in the 400 m hurdles. This is a another huge accomplishment in one year after giving birth to her baby boy, Cornelis Levi, 8 months ago. Jana says,

I thought ‘C’mon do it for Cor.’ He doesn’t understand now but he will understand in a few years time what it means.I can’t wait to give him a cuddle. He has changed my life and I don’t know if I could have done this effort without [my husband] Chris and him in my life. It has changed me as a person.

After the semi I had an inkling [about winning the race] but to be honest absolutely not, I mean how can you have a baby eight months ago and then do this? This is honestly the highlight of my life.

Jana is married to Chris Rawlinson, also a specialist 400 m hurdles runner, has been Jana’s personal coach since 2004. She recently announced that she would be retiring to concentrate on family life after the Beijing Olympics.

Source:  Adelaide

Thanks to CBB reader Jennie.

Comments

For a minute, I thought the baby had Pebbles Flintstone’s hairdo! And congratus to Jana.

- daisy on August 30th, 2007

I thought her son’s name was spelled “Cornelius” with a u…

I heard her on the radio this morning while she was huffing and puffing after the race… she said she’d won a thousand gold medals with the birth of hher son but this win was pretty amazing as well.

She also said he was probably too young to understand but he’d be back at home cheering her on anyway.

Sarah’s note: Nope, nope ‘u.’

- Lilybett on August 30th, 2007

CONGRATS TO JANA!!!! SHE IS WOMAN, HEAR HER ROAR!

- Campbell on August 30th, 2007

This is really, really great to read. After all the controversy over her parenting choices, I have been pulling for her to do well in her career.

- Roger on August 30th, 2007

Does anyone have the video of her win on youtube?

- Sophie on August 30th, 2007

That is wonderful news and congrats on the gold medal Jana! This news totally obliterates all the bad karma from the other Jana post from the numerous posters who were so vocally negative about her taking time away from her son to train for the Olympics. Go Jana go!

- Dawna on August 30th, 2007

I had never ever heard of her before CBB published that post about her a couple days back. Then, after all the controversy that it sparked, I made it a point to watch both the semi-final and the final race to cheer her on. I was SO hoping that she’d win and I’m SO glad that she did!

- Anna on August 31st, 2007

That is so great. Especially after all the controversy over her parenting choices. Congratulations, Jana!

- Charity on August 31st, 2007

Congrats to her for her incredible accomplishment. However, it would sit better with me if she’d said this was the highlight of her career…I would think having her son would be the highlight of her life.

I’m sure she didn’t mean anything against her motherhood by it, it’s just what she said in the excitement of the moment. But how it looks in black and white always sounds differently than when said face to face.

- Marie on September 1st, 2007