Jared Tallent to be honored in the Athletics South Australia Hall of Fame

Renowned race walker and Olympic medal winner Jared Tallent is set to be inducted into Athletics South Australia’s Hall of Fame on Friday, May 24th at the 2023/24 Awards Night and Hall of Fame Dinner presented by VIVA.

Tallent, whose phenomenal career spanned 13 years, retired in 2021 after a number of injury setbacks in the lead up to the Tokyo Olympics, and is now a coach based here in Adelaide.

“I only had a few months off after my retirement before I started coaching,” Tallent said.

“The things you learn throughout your career are pretty invaluable, and now I can give these tips to the next group of athletes,” he said.

“If I can help athletes make tournaments then that’s a great achievement as far as I’m concerned.”

As for his own career in competition, Tallent won a slew of medals in race walking events while a member of Athletics South Australia.

His tally during his time in SA includes a Silver medal at the 2016 Olympics, Silvers at the 2013 and 2015 World Championships, and a Silver and Gold in the 2014 and 2016 World Race Walking Cups, respectively.

“I probably could have reflected more on that part of my career – especially that time around 2015/2016,” Tallent said.

“I didn’t compete much after that because of injuries, and looking back it was a great time to be involved in the sport,” he said.

Tallent’s career began at the AIS in Canberra, and his move to South Australia was brought on earlier than expected when the scholarship program he was a part of was dissolved in 2013.

“To be honest, I was looking to move to Adelaide anyway, but that certainly sped things up,” Tallent said.

“The most difficult part of it was leaving behind such a big network of elite athletes, and I found myself training a lot overseas when I could,” he said.

“But the athletics community here was always super supportive and welcomed me with open arms.

“I was born in Ballarat, but I’m very much a South Australian now.”

Tallent’s time in South Australia coincided with a wave of doping scandals in the sport – and Tallent himself is now an ambassador for clean competition.

“During that time towards the end of my career, the sport was really getting cleaned up,” Tallent said.

“For my Silver at Rio 2016 I was in a really good headspace – I knew the guys I was up against were the best of the best, so winning a medal there is probably one of my happier memories,” he said.

And for Tallent, it’s the Olympic medals that he views as being the defining moments of his career.

“It’s always an athlete’s dream to compete at the Olympics, so to win medals at three separate Games is something I’m very proud of and proved to myself that my earlier results weren’t just flukes,” Tallent said.

Athletics South Australia CEO Shane Fuller has said Tallent is entirely deserving of joining an elite list of athletes in the Hall of Fame.

“Jared has had an exceptional career at the highest level of competition,” Fuller said.

“He is Australia’s most successful male track and field athlete, and was a member of Athletics South Australia during a period where he won medals at both the Olympics and World Championships,” he said.

“We are honoured to have welcomed Jared to Adelaide, and immensely proud of his achievements.

“It is very fitting that we add him to the list of esteemed greats in the Athletics South Australia Hall of Fame.”

Tallent is grateful to Athletics South Australia for his induction.

“It’s definitely an honour to be recognised in this way,” Tallent said.

“It’s a very special moment for me, and it makes me look back on my career with pride,” he said.

Don't miss out on you chance to help recognise Jared on Friday, May 24th at the 2023/24 Awards Night and Hall of Fame Dinner presented by VIVA. Tickets Avalible now, https://www.athleticssa.com.au/events/238105

Written by Jacob Stevens