Liz Gleadle was born in Vancouver, BC. Her parents, Dan and Sonia enrolled her in almost every sport available throughout elementary school, but Liz played for the Vancouver Wildcats Rep fastball team for a number of years as a pitcher, building skill that helped her to learn javelin quickly.
Liz Gleadle Achievements
Picked up at Javelin in Grade 8 Gym Class taught by Caroline Wittrin (who had competed for Canada in hammer)
2004
- 3rd at BC High School Championships
- BC Youth Champion
- Canadian Youth Champion
2005
- Canadian Youth Champion
- Canadian Youth Record Holder – 50.53m
- 5th Place at World Youth Championships in Morocco
- Recipient of Myrtle Cook Award – Athletics Canada Award for Best Youth Athlete of the Year
2006
- 2nd Place at ASU Invitational as a high school athlete at a NCAA meet
- Canadian Junior Champion
- 12th Place at World Junior Championships in China
- High School Female Athlete of the Year Award (for Sport BC)
2007
- Canadian Junior Record Holder – 52.37m(at Mt. SAC Relays, California)
- Elbow injury – couldn’t attend Junior Pan Am Junior Championships despite qualifying for the team
2007-2010 UBC CAREER
- 4 time NAIA Champion
- NAIA Record Holder, Set Record 3 times
- 2011 May Brown Award Recipient – Outstanding Graduating Female Athlete (based on UBC Career)
2008
- Personal Best of 54.13m at Seattle, WA
- Canadian Senior Champion
- North American and Central American (NACAC) Champion in Mexico
2009
- SFU Spring Open Personal Best of 55.85m
- Canadian Senior Champion
- 6th Place at World University Games (FISU) in Serbia
- Canadian Senior Record 58.21m at FISU
2010
- Winner of Texas Relays, and meet record – 57.85m
- Mid season elbow injury – rest of season affected
- NACAC Champion in the Florida, USA
2011
- Low back injury – 2 months off from training preseason, affected fitness for season longevity
- Moved to train at National Training Center in Lethbridge with Coach Larry Steinke in May
- Personal Best of 58.40m at Lethbridge throws Gala
- 8th Place at FISU in China
2012
- Hit with 16lb hammer in right quad in January. 1 month off, full recovery within 2months
- New Canadian Record of 59.85m at Lethbridge Throws Gala
- Second Olympic B Standard of 59.15m
- New Canadian Record of 61.15m at Harry Jerome International in Vancouver
- Olympic Trials Champion, 60m (Meet Record), Qualified for London 2012
- London 2012, 11th in Qualifying Round, Qualified for Finals, where she placed 12th
2014
- Twice broke her own Canadian Record with a season’s and lifetime best of 64.5 meters
- Llaced 5th at Commonwealth Games
- Won the Birmingham Diamond league event, against a field of the world’s best throwers
- Placed 3rd in the prestigous Continental Cup in Marrakech, Morocco
2015
- Pan American Games Toronto, Canada 1st 62.83 m
- World Championships Beijing, China 11th 59.82 m
Liz Gleadle is an exceptionally talented and accomplished Canadian winner of Javelin Thrower. She has won gold at 2008 NACAC U-23 Championships Toluca, Mexico, 2010 NACAC U23 Championships Miramar, Florida, United States and 2015 Pan American Games Toronto, Canada. She is in conversation with Namita Nayyar, President Women Fitness.
Full interview on Next Page!
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All Written Content Copyright © 2016 Women Fitness
Ms. Namita Nayyar: You were born in Vancouver, BC and started taking part in sports at a very young age. In Caroline Wittrin’s 2002 grade 8 gym class at Kitsilano, you threw your first javelin. You became a javelin thrower and in grade 10 (2004) stood 3rd at BC High School Championships, winning BC Youth Championships, and winning the Canadian Youth Championships. You reached the pinnacle of success by when in 2014 you twice broke your own Canadian Record and also won the Birmingham Diamond league event. What factors do you consider were responsible that made you achieve that?
Ms. Liz Gleadle: I’ve consistently made smart choices for my career at the right time. A few years back, when I knew I needed a new training environment, I decided to move to Lethbridge, Alberta to work with my coach, Lawrence Steinke. It was a hard decision to put my Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology on hold, but it was necessary to make the 2012 Olympics. Once my training environment was established, I was able to focus on different aspect of my training to take me to the next level. Last season it was making sleep a priority, to be more productive at practice. This year I’ll be taking my nutrition to the next level with meal and supplement timing, ensuring I’m eating and properly absorbing nutrients.
Ms. Namita Nayyar: Tell us about your training in the sport of your specialization that helped you in your achievements in the world of javelin throw?
Ms. Liz Gleadle: I have an intense regime! I throw and lift 7-9 times per week, and do yoga or run when I have the energy to fit them in. More practices = more throws = better technique. The most important part of high frequency training is getting enough rest to be ready for the next practice. When rested, I can focus on technique, but if I’m tired I could be reinforcing bad habits. Quality is more important than quantity.
Ms. Namita Nayyar: What exercises comprise your fitness regime or workout routine you shall like to share?
Ms. Liz Gleadle: This year there was A LOT of lunges and step ups in my program, and I loved it. I focused on keeping good posture and core stability, and glute activation to get the most out of the exercises; they translated to noticeable extra power in my throw.
Ms. Namita Nayyar: Do you take some special diet or have a strict menu that you follow to remain healthy and physically fit?
Ms. Liz Gleadle: I’m constantly refining my diet, by experimenting with what works for me. I’m lactose intolerant, prefer to eat less gluten, and generally have protein with every meal or snack. I avoid sugar as much as I can, because I find my energy levels are more constant during the day – I skip the 3pm crash that I used to have. If you decide to cut out refined sugars from your diet, the first 2-3 days are tough to resist cravings, but I found you quickly realize how great your body can feel, and it’s worth it!
Videos
Ms. Namita Nayyar: You have glowing skin and gorgeous hair. Do you take some kind of skin treatment to keep it young and glowing and secondly what you do to your hair to make them look so stunning?
Ms. Liz Gleadle: Thank you 🙂 I’ve realized my skin and hair health are directly related to how well I’m looking after my body. If I get lots of green vegetables, hydrate, workout, avoid sugar, and most importantly sleep enough… I find my skin almost looks after itself. That being said… I love my Biotherm moisturizer.
Ms. Namita Nayyar: Advice and motivational words to the inspiring and budding girl in the sport of javelin throw who all are your fans, they shall like to know from you, what they should do for their climb to ladder of success in the field of women javelin throw?
Ms. Liz Gleadle: Javelin is hard on the body – having bad technical habits can make for a short career. It’s easier to create good habits from scratch, than to break bad ones and have to start all over. Keep your shoulder and elbow healthy by making sure your arm is hitting the right positions in the throw to avoid damage in your joints! I think focusing on technique over strength in the beginning is the key to success! Get good habits, and then add power to them.
Ms. Namita Nayyar: You had back injury and had to take 2013 off to recover. You made an early comeback to not only compete in 2014, but also become a force to be reckon with on the international scene, you broke your own Canadian Record twice, placed 5th at the Commonwealth Games, and went on to win the Birmingham Diamond League Grand Prix over a field of the world’s best throwers. How you were able to overcome such a physical medical setback and what advice you can give to those in a similar situation?
Ms. Liz Gleadle: Physically, I have an amazing team of physiotherapists who were able to recognize the true source of my injury, and create a plan to bring me back to full health.
Mentally, rehab was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. Patience is not my strong suit, and relearning how to properly activate muscles for simple movements like walking, and raising my arms was beyond frustrating.
I wasn’t allowed to run for 8 months, or throw for a year. Track and field is not just my job, it’s my passion – every time I wanted to quit, I thought of getting back into an Olympic stadium, and on top of the podium. I dream big, and it motivates me. If you love something enough, find a way to make it back. Take ownership of your reality, and success will follow.
Videos
Ms. Namita Nayyar: How did you feel on your memorable winning the Gold at 2015 Pan American Games at Toronto, Canada with a javelin throw of 62.83 m?
Ms. Liz Gleadle: Every cell in my body felt alive, and electrified! It was an incredible feeling to come back from third place, on the last throw of the competition, and win Gold on home soil. People have told me they got goose bumps watching me fire up the crowd and throw. It’s an incredible feeling to know I’ve inspired people.
Ms. Namita Nayyar: You have won 2004 & 2005 Canadian Youth Champion, 2006 Canadian Junior Champion, 2007-2010 Four times NAIA Champion, 2008 1st at NACAC U-23 Championships Toluca, Mexico, 2009 Canadian Senior Champion, 2010 1st at NACAC U23 Championships Miramar, Florida, United States, 2014 1st at Birmingham Diamond league event and 2015 1st at Pan American Games Toronto, Canada. What additional responsibilities these winnings bestow upon you towards the community and the sports of “women javelin throw” you competed in?
Ms. Liz Gleadle: Before being a thrower, I played many other sports… Fast pitch, basketball, soccer… But I wasn’t exceptional at any of them. When I found javelin, I realized I’d found my niche. I think it’s my responsibility to let others know that it’s good to try stuff off the beaten path. You may find the “thing” in which you were meant to be great! I talk at schools, tell my story, and hope it inspires others to find their passion, and pursue it with all their heart.
Ms. Namita Nayyar: Who has been your biggest influence and motivation in your path to success?
Ms. Liz Gleadle: Different people have had critical influences on me at different times. My mom says, “Anything worth doing, is worth doing right”, and I apply that to my athletic career. I regularly approach my decisions (be it how I spend my time, what I eat, my recovery), with “will this make me throw further?” My coach is my greatest influence though; he and I are perfectionists and control freaks, in pursuit of the ultimate throw, and our partnership inspires me to pursue excellence.
Ms. Namita Nayyar: What you wish to say about the website Womenfitness.net and message for its visitors?
Ms. Liz Gleadle: I have a favorite quote that I have tattooed as a reminder, “Keep your feet on the ground and your eyes on the stars”. It’s good to get carried away and dream big, but a lot of hard work goes into achieving a goal. Plan, execute, achieve!
To know more about Liz Gleadle, check her at: http://www.lizgleadle.com/
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Women Fitness Team thanks Liz Gleadle for giving her valuable time for this interview and quenching the thirst of her fans to know more about her and made this interview happen.
Videos
https://youtube.com/watch?v=AFyWs_DaJW0
All content on this site is copyright of Women Fitness and no part of any article found on this site may be reproduced without an express permission and highlighted, do follow link crediting http://www.womenfitness.net/ or preferably the original page as the source. This interview is exclusive and taken by Namita Nayyar President womenfitness.net and should not be reproduced, copied or hosted in part or full anywhere without an express permission.
All Written Content Copyright © 2016 Women Fitness