30/04/2024
At the end of every season in our sport athletes make the difficult decision to hang up their spikes.
It's always tough after they’ve spent countless hours in the sport they love to be the very best they can be.
Most don’t get the opportunity to sit back and review what they have achieved and contributed to their sport.
A few weeks ago Zach Holdsworth or Speedy Z hung up his spikes.
I still remember clearly the day, in October 2013, I met Julie Holdsworth and this young man Zach near the equipment shed at the Ridge track. Little did I know then how much Zach would achieve and what an impact he would have on so many people in the sport.
As an athlete Zach achieved unbelievable things. His personal bests in the 100m stands at 10.36 (the Illawong Revesby Workers Athletic club record) and 21.24 for the 200m. During 2019 and 2021 he ran 10.40 or quicker over half a dozen times and became an integral part of the Australian men’s 4 x 100m team and represented Australia at the world university games in 2019.
Like all athletes Zach showed incredible resilience. He had a problem with a hamstring because of his back and every time he hurt himself he would leave no stone unturned and come back stronger and more determined than before. We must thank Jenny Laurendet, the great physio who got Zach back healthy again to achieve what he has done. He’s had other setbacks but just keeps coming back stronger than before with a greater enthusiasm for the sport that he loves.
Over the last 12 years Zach’s been a massive part of our squad. Initially he was the baby but as the older athletes left he became the quiet leader, that lead by example. If we had a new person join it would be Zach who would take them through the warm up. If I thought someone in the squad was quiet one day I would go to speak to Zach to ask him to engage with them and he would say I know I’ll do it even before I spoke. If we were doing hills at Oatley it would be Zach leading the first rep and then Zach encouraging everyone to lift for the last rep then after he’d finished being sick praise everyone for their efforts. If we were doing ANSW state relays it would be Zach, well taught by his friend Jake Hammond, who would speak to the others about how important it was to be in a team and represent your club. This strong relay team culture carried over to when he represented NSW and Australia in relay teams.
For me as coach he became my deputy. We joke that he finishes my sentences. He’s probably heard my stories so many times he’s started to use them as his own.
Amongst his peers and fellow coaches he is recognised as a great man, a good friend and someone to spend time with.
Like many athletes his family is an integral part of his career. Without their continued support he wouldn’t have achieved everything he has for as long as he has. For me as his coach I am very grateful for the support they’ve given me.
So now having finished Uni and started work he’s realised he can’t devote all the time he needs to the sport he loves to be the very best athlete he wants to be. We, and this goes to every athlete hanging up their spikes this season, thank them for their contribution to our sport. For Zach we wish him all the best with his golf game, we hope the Canterbury Bulldogs will one day win a premiership and wish Zach all the best in all his future endeavours.
Michael
