Back to familiar routine, Hooker resumes training in Perth - IAAF Online Diaries
(Wednesday, 19 October 2011)
Back home in Perth, Steve Hooker writes, in his latest IAAF Diary, that the same old things are a little bit different, for a little while, at least.
“It’s a strange feeling for a little which after you come home. You’re in a place that’s familiar, but it doesn’t feel all that familiar yet.
“It takes a couple of weeks to get back into regular routines, but I’m just about back there now.
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For Hooker, Daegu experience not as devastating as it might appear – IAAF Online Diaries
(Tuesday, 20 September 2011)
Watching the World Championships final wasn’t as painful as you might imagine for Steve Hooker, but it did fire him up for next year, the Olympic champion writes in his latest IAAF Online Diary.
“Watching the final of my event go on without me in Daegu was a funny experience, because I knew I wasn’t ready to be out there competing.
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Hooker focused on season’s debut in Monaco – IAAF Online Diaries
(Wednesday, 13 July 2011)
London 2012 is pretty well on his doorstep, but reigning Olympic and World champion Steve Hooker is focused on his 2011 debut at the Herculis Monaco Samsung Diamond League meeting on 22 July.
“Monaco will be my absolute first competition since last October.
“It is jumping straight in at the deep end, I guess. But there’s no better place to start than against the best in the world in a competition that’s virtually a world championships final. I’ve been missing the adrenalin of competition, that feeling of being out there and being competitive.
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With summer debut looming, Hooker eager to get in the Samsung Diamond League points chase - IAAF Online Diaries
(Thursday, 16 June 2011)
Steve Hooker will be looking for something to build on when he returns to competition at the Herculis Diamond League meeting in Monaco after a nine-month layoff. In his latest IAAF Online Diary, Australia's World and Olympic champion catches us up on his preparation with just a few weeks remaining before he kicks off his summer campaign.
“One of my goals for this year is to improve throughout the season. I’m not expecting to set the world on fire in my first couple of competitions, but I’d like to set down a solid foundation I can build on.
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Technical adjustments, and a change in locale on the horizon for Hooker - IAAF Online Diaries
(Tuesday, 10 May 2011)
As the 2011 season gets underway, Steven Hooker is getting ready for his own return to competition. This year will involve some technical changes, along with a change in base – to London.
“By the time I have my first competition in July it will be October, 2010 – nine months - since I competed.
“I’m definitely mentally refreshed and in the past few months I’ve done a lot of good stuff, physically.
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When at home, Hooker enjoys returning to his athletics roots – IAAF Online Diaries
(Monday, 11 April 2011)
Whenever he gets back to Melbourne, Steve Hooker likes to link up with his original coach, Mark Stewart, who also developed women’s vault pioneer, Emma George. In his latest IAAF Online Diary, the reigning Olympic champion looks back at the influence Stewart had on the early part of his career.
"When I’m in Melbourne I always try to get to Mark’s sessions, talk with the guys he’s coaching and do as much with them as I can.
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Hooker enjoying the competition and his competitors, from the sidelines – IAAF Online Diaries
(Tuesday, 8 March 2011)
Sitting out the Australian season means missing competition, but it has its compensations, says Steve Hooker - especially being able to observe more closely the Australian and international scene.
"It’s not always fun being out of competition, but I am enjoying watching everyone else and what they’re doing instead of being at the centre of it all. It’s a nice change.
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Long break from competition suits Hooker just fine – IAAF Online Diaries
(Monday, 07 February 2011)
Big things happened the last time Steve Hooker, the 2008 Olympic Pole Vault champion, took a long break from competition, and he expects the same again.
“The last time I had this long a period of training was 2003 and that led into the season when I qualified for the Olympic Games. In 2003, I didn’t have a European summer. Having trained through that year made a really big difference.
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Hooker - Getting back to number one in 2011 - IAAF Online Diaries
(Friday, 7 January 2011)
Cooking for Christmas is like preparing for competition, says Steve Hooker. You need a good build-up.
“We did all the cooking for Christmas this year. My family came to Perth and Katja’s family came out from Russia.
“So we did the hosting. It was different from just turning up at Mum and Dad’s house, a bit more stressful. But I like cooking, so it was a good experience, a good thing to do.
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For Hooker, extended break aimed at peak performance in Daegu – IAAF Online Diaries
(Monday, 6 December 2010)
Steve Hooker’s ‘injury break’ is more about putting himself in the best possible position for Daegu 2011 and London 2012 than an enforced rest, the reigning World and Olympic Pole Vault champion and Samsung Diamond League Ambassador writes in his latest IAAF Online Diary.
“I am not injured just suffering a bit of wear and tear from a long season.
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Hooker enjoying well-deserved break - IAAF Online Diaries
(Monday, 8 November 2010)
After a long and demanding season, Samsung Diamond League Ambassador Steve Hooker needed a break a little bit more than in other years. The continued development of some young, talented rivals gives him all the motivation he needs for 2011 and 2012.
“I think the continuing emergence of guys like Renaud (Lavillenie) and Malte Mohr has been notable this year. It’s going to be interesting to see how they go next year. They’ve got the European Indoors at the start of 2011.
“They’re young, talented vaulters. Having those sort of rivals around keeps me motivated.
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India 'Fantastic' season conclusion for Steven Hooker - IAAF Online Diaries
(Thursday, 14 October 2010)
After taking his second Commonwealth Games title in the Pole Vault, Samsung Diamond League Ambassador Steve Hooker spent the rest of his time in Delhi as a spectator. Then he plans a rest at the end of a long, arduous season.
“India and Delhi have been fantastic.
“There was quite a lot of negative media before the championships, but I’ve had a great time. There have been small issues, but the big picture has been fantastic.
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Hooker reflects on Continental Cup victory, and looks ahead to Commonwealth Games – IAAF Online Diaries
(Monday, 13 September 2010)
His international season ‘book-ended’ by a World Indoor Championships gold medal and a win at the IAAF / VTB Bank Continental Cup, Samsung Diamond League Ambassador Steve Hooker now looks forward to pulling on an Australian singlet for his last two competitions of 2010.
“If I could change a few things in the middle of the year I probably would, but the start of the international year and the finish I wouldn’t.
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Steve Hooker aims at a better racing line while keeping an eye on the Europeans - IAAF Online Diaries
(Tuesday, 3 August 2010)
Go-karting, a barbeque, a low-key competition, and keeping an eye on Barcelona 2010, that’s how World and Olympic champion pole vaulter Steve Hooker has been filling in his time before the Samsung Diamond League resumes…
It’s good to have a little bit of down-time. I’m enjoying being able to spend a little time in one place, not travelling around all the time, just relaxing and training in Leverkusen.
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'More confident, more relaxed' Hooker aims high in Lausanne - IAAF Online Diaries
(Friday, 9 July 2010)
Heading for his fourth Diamond League appearance and with no win under his belt in the series so far, World and Olympic champion Steve Hooker believes his time has come to set the record straight...
“Since the New York Diamond League I’ve had some good, consistent training and I feel like I’m ready to start jumping well.
“I went to Wattenschied last weekend and won with 5.80. I just wanted a bit of a practice competition before Lausanne, where I could wind it down a bit, without the pressure that I had to win, which I’ll get in Lausanne.
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Hooker relishing favourite’s role - IAAF Online Diaries
(Friday, 30 April 2010)
As an IAAF Diamond League Ambassador, Steve Hooker realises he will be the man to beat in men’s Pole Vault this season - his results in the past two years give him that status anyway. But he doesn’t mind the extra attention.
"I like being in that position. I don’t feel like I’m lacking in areas where I can improve. There’s a lot of stuff I can work on to keep on improving my own performance. That’s what I focus on more than my opposition and how they’re jumping. If I can do my job, continue improving and keep working on my weaknesses, I should be able to keep myself in a very strong position.
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After Doha Gold, Hooker’s next stop is traditional Australian 120m foot race - IAAF Online Diaries
(Tuesday, 23 March 2010)
Steve Hooker’s feet have scarcely touched the ground after his gold medal in the Pole Vault in Doha 2010. Finally back in Perth, he reflects on the achievement and plans an assault on Australia’s oldest and richest handicap sprint.
“Since Doha, it’s mainly been a lot of travel. Back to Melbourne, a day at Falls Creek and back to Perth.
“Now I’ve got the chance to get back into training, then the Stawell Gift and the national championships (Perth, 16-18 April).
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Hooker begins final preparations for Doha - IAAF Online Diaries
(Friday, 26 February 2010)
Circumstances forced Steve Hooker to get pretty much into a zone of his own to win last year’s outdoor World championships. Again he is on his own as he prepares for the World Indoor Championships with competitions in Sydney this weekend and at the opening IAAF World Challenge meeting in Melbourne on 4 March.
“There’s no internationals jumping against me in these competitions, so I’ve really got to look within myself to what I’m doing. The aim is to get the best out of myself and get myself into the best possible position going to Doha.
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As New Year dawns, Steve Hooker feeling energised - IAAF Online Diaries
(Thursday, 28 January 2010)
A New Year, a new training venue and a strong training bloc under his belt - Steve Hooker is feeling re-energised.
"We’re now based at the new Perth athletics stadium, which is the venue for this year’s Australian national championships...
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Steve Hooker’s post-Christmas lunch nap: ‘Best sleep I have all year!’ – IAAF Online Diaries
(Tuesday, 22 December 2009)
Christmas takes Steve Hooker back to Melbourne to see his family, and perhaps some cricket, and a nap after Christmas Day lunch that he reckons is the best sleep he has all year!
"Being a Melbourne boy who now lives on the other side of the country in Perth, family Christmas means going home...
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Advent of IAAF Diamond League brings changes and new challenges for Steve Hooker - IAAF Online Diaries
(Tuesday, 24 November 2009)
The past two years have brought Steve Hooker Olympic and World gold medals after two concise and well-planned campaigns. The advent of the IAAF Diamond League, Hooker writes in his latest IAAF On-line diary, will bring some changes and new challenges.
"The Diamond League provides a big challenge. Winning the Diamond League in its inaugural year would be probably the biggest prize on offer in this coming year in athletics...
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More awards, and tax time for Steve Hooker - IAAF Online Diaries
(Thursday, 29 October 2009)
The accolades keep rolling in for Steve Hooker, the most recent ‘The Don Award’, a trophy for Australia’s most inspirational sporting achievement, named after Sir Donald Bradman, the peerless cricket batter widely considered Australia’s greatest ever sportsman.
That aside, Hooker’s just trying to get his life back in order after four months on the road.
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Berlin gold a new benchmark for Steven Hooker - IAAF Online Diaries
(Monday, 21 September 2009)
Steve Hooker drew on the past and discovered something for the future in winning the World Championships Pole Vault despite an adductor injury. He reflects on his performance and how he turned the situation around.
“If I can run down on one injured leg and one healthy leg and do three jumps of the quality I did in the world championships, then I know when I’m fully healthy I can do a lot more than that."
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Hooker better and better each day - IAAF Online Diaries
(Monday, 20 July 2009)
“Today (20 July) is exactly a month away from the pole vault qualifying competition and I feel like I’ll be going in there as strong as anyone.
“Physically, I’m just better and better each day. The injuries I had (a knee problem as a result of a training accident, and strained pectoral muscles) before leaving for Europe are not really a concern any more. Every day that I’m here is another solid day of training behind me without having to worry about those things."
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Hooker's quest for Berlin's glory starts in Cologne - IAAF Online Diaries
(Monday, 22 June 2009)
“I’ve been hanging out to get away from the Australian winter. I like the athlete lifestyle and I really enjoy my time on the road. Three months is probably about long enough, though, then it’s good to get home again.
“My competition programme is settled - Lausanne on 7 July, Reims on 14 July, London on 25 July and Stockholm on 31 July. They’re all venues where you can jump high. Four meets is probably the right fit for me. I like to feel like I build towards a major championship."
Hooker looking forward to new stadium in Perth – IAAF Online Diaries
(Friday, 29 May 2009)
"Hopefully this new stadium will help retain kids from Little Athletics all the way through and help the sport continue to have a resurgence in WA.
"It’s the first time we’ve had an athletics track in WA which has had lights, so it can host twilight and night competition which we couldn’t do over here before. That will fit in well with the hot summer weather."
Hooker enjoys Perth Indian Summer - IAAF Online Diaries
(Wednesday, 22 April 2009)
“Perth this time of year is amazing - cool, fresh mornings and it gets up to about 30 (deg. C) during the day. I go to the beach twice a day between sessions for recovery. At this time of year the sun has still got a bit of kick in it, but the water’s cool and refreshing. It’s my favourite time of year in Perth, I love training over here at this time.
“I’m doing three training sessions a day most days, and around that I’m getting a lot of treatment and massage for the injury I’ve had. My week is very full at the moment with training and all the things associated with it."
Steven Hooker back to the where it all started from - IAAF Online Diaries
(Wednesday, 25 April)
A month after making his first Olympic team in 2004, Steve Hooker competed in the Australian club championships, doing the 200, 400, high jump and 4x100 for his club, Box Hill. He tells us what his club and first vault coach mean to him and why, two days before the Melbourne World Athletics Tour event, he was back.
“I was there for a fund-raising event. The people who went were there because they were helping the club.
“Box Hill Athletic Club has got probably the most-used pole vault facility in Australia. Two or three groups jump on the bags every day, so they get worn out pretty quickly. It’s all funded by the club and the people involved."
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