Steps towards a big dream

CASSIE Raselli believes age should not get in the way of ambition.
With this thought firmly in her mind, the 11-year-old walker has already set her sights on the Olympics.
The grade-five student at Berwick Lodge Primary School recently returned from Sydney having tested her skills against a quality field of 13-year-olds in the Australian All Schools’ Athletics Championships at Olympic Park.
Cassie finished sixth in a field of 17.
“I was nervous and got boxed-in at the start of the race,” she said.
“I was in 16th place at the 100-metre mark, but I kept going and worked my way up through the field.”
Cassie was the youngest competitor in the girls’ under-14, 1500-metre walk event.
But Cassie is used to competing against older, more experienced walkers.
After spending Saturday mornings in competition against her peers at Knox Little Athletics, Cassie travels to Box Hill to match it with international athletes in senior events.
Cassie started in athletic events in the under-six age group.
By the time she was eight it was clear Cassie had a natural talent for race-walking, and she decided to follow in her mum’s footsteps.
“Mum did athletics when she was young, which is how I got started,” she said.
“And because mum was a race-walker, I decided I’d like to do that too.”
Cassie has competed in walking events at state and national championships, winning numerous medals for her efforts.
She trains under former international walker Wendy Muldoon and has her sights firmly set on race-walking for Australia one day.
“My aim is to represent Australia at the 2012 Olympics in London,” she said.
Cassie’s physical education teacher, Kylee Ziino, herself an Australian medal-winning athlete, said Cassie had what it takes to be successful in the sport.
“Cassie knows what it takes to excel in this field,” she said.
“She is a dedicated and passionate athlete, who trains hard, yet enjoys her sport and I’m sure we will hear much more about her in the years to come.”