Anna’s story: On the verge of greatness
Multi-talented Anna Grimaldi is on the verge of making history at the Paralympics but has had to overcome several injury setbacks to get there. The support of ACC has helped her get back to her best in time for Paris.
Coach Raylene Bates always had high hopes for Anna Grimaldi.
Little did she know the T47 long jumper would go on to become a Paralympics great.
Back in 2016, ACC previewed Para athletes to watch at the 2016 Rio Paralympics.
Raylene, the Paralympics NZ athletics head coach at the time, expected big things from the raw, fresh-faced 19-year-old.
“Anna was picked up from a talent development camp and showed natural ability, and has basically gone from strength-to-strength,” she said.
“Anna’s strongest event is the long jump. She was a bronze medallist in Doha in 2015 and has proven she can compete at international events, she’s proven she can rise to the occasion.
“We have high hopes for Anna.”
‘I’m not scared this time’
New Zealand Paralympian No 195, Anna heads to Paris this month on the cusp of greatness.
The 27-year-old from Dunedin is aiming to become just the third New Zealander to win three consecutive Paralympic gold medals in track and field.
Eve Rimmer won 14 medals from 1968 to 1980 (in javelin, shot put, pentathlon and discus), claiming four gold medals in consecutive Paralympics, while Peter Martin won three golds in a row in the shot put from 1996 to 2004.
Down-to-earth Anna is in a good headspace as she looks to continue her remarkable run at the pinnacle event in her sport.
“This campaign feels like a new chapter in my career,” she says.
“It’s my third Games so I know what I’m up to. But every Paralympics is different, and I’m going into this one with a good understanding of who I am and what I’ve achieved.
“This time around, I’m not scared. That was the biggest thing holding me back – the fear of not winning and what that would mean.”
Anna Grimaldi after winning gold on her Paralympics debut in Rio.
Surprising the world
For most of her glittering career, Anna has battled with imposter syndrome.
She surprised the world when she won gold on her Paralympics debut in Rio. She then backed it up in spectacular fashion with another gold at the COVID-affected Games in Tokyo.
“It’s been nice to be able to take a step back and really appreciate what it took to get here and all the people who’ve supported me,” she says.
“I got way too bogged down in Tokyo by thinking I had to win to still be classed as a champion or to be a gold medallist but that’s not the case. Those medals are in a safe at home and I’ll always have them.
“There’s a nice freedom in that, to know I’m not defined by that success. I’m looking forward to another opportunity to represent my country on the world stage.”
Setting sights on six
Anna has set her sights on clearing 6m in the T47 long jump for the first time.
“The old world record sat at 6.01m for nearly my whole career, and 6m is one of those goal distances to unlock another level,” she says.
At the Para World Championships in Kobe, Japan, Anna finished second in the T47 long jump.
Her best jump of 5.84m could not deny Kiara Rodriguez a hat-trick of Para world titles. The Ecuadorian athlete soared out to a best of 6.17m to clinch gold.
The world record for the T47 long jump is 6.23m.
“We have a great mutual respect for each other,” Anna says of Kiara.
“She’s young and a great athlete, but I have the experience of competing at this level and I’m looking forward to that challenge.”
Keeping pace with the best
It’s a new chapter in more ways than one for Anna.
Aside from her refreshed mental perspective and self-belief, she’s also qualified for the T47 100m and 200m events.
At the world champs in Kobe, Anna showed she can keep pace with the best in the world, taking home the bronze medal in the T47 100m.
This time around, she’s working with former strength and conditioning coach Michael Jacobs. She parted ways with longtime coach Brent Ward at the end of 2022.
“Wardy fostered my love for the long jump, and I will always be grateful for that,” she says.
“Working with Mikey has given me a fresh perspective and a different take. It was good going to Kobe to try out a few things so we can be at our best in Paris.”
ACC helps overcome injury woes
Like the previous campaign in which she had to overcome stress fractures in her foot, Anna’s journey to Paris has been far from straightforward.
In October last year, she suffered stress fractures in both of her fibulas, which is something she’s had to manage to be able to compete in Paris.
“We’ve had to manage the amount of load we’ve been able to do this year. I decided we didn’t have time to do it twice, so I wanted to do the recovery well and only do it once.
“My body is feeling good, and I’ll be ready to go.”
Anna feels fortunate athletes in New Zealand are supported by a scheme like ACC. She believes it’s great to have your recovery supported so you can focus on performance.
“I really relied on the knowledge from specialist people to get me through,” she says.
“Having that help from ACC has been so important in my recovery.”
Living up to the expectation
Anna has a unique opportunity ahead of her.
She has a proven track record of performing when it matters most. Her quest for a third straight gold medal will be one of the fascinating storylines at these Games.
Whatever happens, she has well and truly lived up to the quiet expectation Raylene mentioned on her potential eight years ago.
Anna has taken those high hopes and written herself into Paralympics folklore.
“I’m proud of what I’ve achieved so far,” she says.
“And, hopefully, there’s more to come.”
Paris 2024 Paralympic Games
The 2024 Paralympic Games take place in Paris from 28 August to 8 September, you can follow the action live on TVNZ.
Para Sport Collective
ACC has a community partnership with Paralympics NZ, including supporting the Para Sport Collective.
The collective is a three-year initiative created by Paralympics NZ that supports pre-high performance Para athletes and coaches to achieve their goals.
More information is available on the Paralympics NZ website.
