Award-winning athletics coach has high hopes for rising star

ATHLETICS coach Zenon Kowalczyk and aspiring First Nations para athlete Malachi Canning were recognised for their efforts at the North Coast Academy of Sport awards night.

Kowalczyk won the Harold Kratz Memorial Award for coach of the year for his efforts at Ballina Allstars Athletics, while Canning was named Indigenous Athlete of the Year.

Canning, 18, has an intellectual disability and has already competed around the world in junior athletics events while growing up at Caniaba.

He is aiming to represent Australia in the Paralympic Games in 2028 or 2032.

He will compete in discus, javelin and shotput events at the Virtus World Athletics Championships in Brisbane this month.

Kowalczyk is one of his local coaches along with Don McNamara who is mapping out a plan to have him ready for an Olympic campaign on home soil in 2032.

“Malachi is a character and he’s a delight to coach. He’s very passionate about the sport of athletics and embedding his culture into it as well,” Kowalczyk said.

 

“He gets along really well with the whole athletic squads we run and he’s a pleasure to run in the camps.

“He’s adamant he wants to go to the Paralympic Games and we’ll do whatever we can to get him there.”

Kowalczyk is an advocate for para athletes and has also trained a record number of competitors to state and national championships during his six-year stint at Ballina Allstars Athletics.

He also coaches Nambucca Heads para athlete Lexi Brown who took home the Darrel Chapman Memorial Award for athlete of the year.

His teenage daughter Ayla is a training partner with Brown, and he plans to keep helping and providing opportunities for kids across the region.

“It’s been a long window, the athletes that went to nationals last year were working towards that for about four years. I’m really proud of all our kids at Ballina,” Kowalczyk said.

“It’s collaborative effort, Don McNamara is a throws coach at Lismore and Caroline Bailey works with the long distance runners at Byron Bay.

“I’m lucky enough to share ideas and work with them.

“NCAS has just released its athletics program and its inclusive for para athletes and we’re looking forward to welcoming more kids into the ranks.”