Discus records spur Chouhal on

It is often said that the mark of champions doesn't lie in their reaction to success but rather when facing failure.

Everyone can handle a good result, that is the easy bit, but few can deal with a bad one, or worse, a series of setbacks. Which can be a problem because, regardless of how talented or gifted a day will come when something crops to test not only one's physical capabilities but also the inner resolve.

For Antonella Chouhal that day came back in 2001 when, having achieved the qualification mark for a place in the GSSE team, her dreams were shattered once it emerged that her event - the shot put - wasn't going to be held.

"It was a huge disappointment and it felt as if the whole world was caving in," she says, recalling the experience.

"Looking back, however, it did me good because it spurred me on. I switched from the shot put and started focusing on the discus."

Last year, she broke the national record that had stood for the previous 25 years and anyone who witnessed that 40.75m record-breaking throw will surely recall Antonella's celebrations upon setting the new mark.

This year, she has twice bettered the national record that now stands at 42.2m.

"It was something that I expected," she admits candidly.

"That said, it is still off the target that I've set myself for this year. I want a throw of 45 metres so there is still some way to go."

The training is hard though. Her current routine includes two hours daily for six days during the week which isn't easy.

Yet a tight schedule is the least of her difficulties. As with so many other local athletes, Chouhal cites the lack of competition as her biggest challenge.

"It is really difficult to motivate yourself," she said. "You know you're going to win regardless of whether you have a good throw or not. It is a constant challenge to try to do your utmost. Often you have to resort to tricks like comparing with what the men do and trying to do better in order to keep on pushing."

Tellingly, her latest record came in the international meet held this month by Athletics Malta.

"After a good first throw, I suddenly found myself in second place because another competitor, Hannah Evenden, had done better than me. It was a situation that I'm not used to but it got me going."

Apart from bettering her record, Chouhal is already casting an eye at next year's GSSE.

With the Games having been the catalyst for such an important decision in her career, it would be the ideal pay-back.