A 24-year old Dunedin nurse is in the midst of training for the world championships for gumboot throwing.
Mairead Fox with her award at the Rural Games. Photo: Supplied
Mairead Fox became the national female champion of the sport at the Rural Games in Queenstown in February.
Soon after, she received a phone call out of the blue from the Boot Throwing Association, asking her to step up to represent New Zealand in Italy in September.
"I thought it was a joke to begin with; I was in the supermarket and I dropped my lemons.
"I didn't think it was a real thing at all, but she was very serious about it and encouraged me to go and represent New Zealand at an international level, which you don't get to do every day."
Ms Fox said she needed to increase her training.
Gumboot throwing in action. Photo: Supplied
"I have been trying to suss out how I can do that best. I've just been looking up the expert throwers on YouTube and getting my technique right.
"When I did it in Queenstown, I just looked at the guy before me and copied him, but I see these big Eastern European ladies do a bit of a run-up and spin like the shotputters do, like Valerie [Adams] does."
She will be competing against representatives from Russia, Finland, Sweden and Germany and said she would be aiming to beat her personal best throw of 28 metres.
She said a quiz night was being organised and a Givealittle page had been set up to help to fundraise for the trip.
