9 Apr 2018

Alana Barber becomes second Kiwi woman to medal in walking

From Checkpoint, 5:56 pm on 9 April 2018


When Alana Barber won silver in race walking yesterday, she was the second New Zealand woman to get a medal in the event.

She was also the second woman in her family to compete at a Commonwealth Games - her mother Shirley Barber ran for New Zealand at the Christchurch Games in 1974.

Both Shirley, and her father David - who hadn't left New Zealand for 46 years - were there to watch the race. In fact, they handed Alana the New Zealand flag she crossed the line with. 

"I think this is the first big race that I've had that both my parrents have been able to be watched," Alana.  

Shirley's father probably would have gone to the empire games in swimming if it wasn't for the second world war, she said. 

And she wasn't sure if Alana would follow in her footsteps. 

"We werent sure whether [she would end up as] a runner or a rower." 

Alana says her parents were never pushy about her going into sport.

"It was just like 'here are some photos of me running but no pressure - you don't have to do this if you don't want to.'"

"Well, we do say 'don't come home if you don't win,'" Shirley joked. 

Now the family has a decision to make - will they follow Alana to Tokyo in 2020.