Zoe Eastwood-Bryson: See the world as an Official

Competing is not the only way to take your place at the Olympic Games.

Since the Tokyo Olympics began on July 21, hundreds of people have played a vital role in the officiating of the almost 340 events from 41 sports.

SA Race Walking official Zoe Eastwood-Bryson last week made her way to Tokyo ahead of Thursday’s 20km men’s and Friday’s 20km women’s and 50km men’s Race Walks in what will be her first Olympic Games officiating experience.

Zoe said it was an exciting time to be an official considering the tight turn around between the current Games, next year’s Birmingham Commonwealth Games and the 2024 France Olympics, as well as the recently announced 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games.

“To be appointed to my first Olympic Games as a Race Walking judge is really big, I am looking forward to it,” she said.

“I was never going to be an Olympic champion as an athlete, but I am going to the Olympics as a judge, that’s pretty cool.

“Officiating is a great way to remain involved in the sport if you’re not an athlete or can no longer compete, and I have been lucky enough to go and see the world as a judge.

“Having been allocated the Games in 2032, this is the Australian officials’ opportunity – we only have a few Australian officials in Tokyo, but when it’s your home games we will supply 200-plus officials.”

Zoe’s advice to anyone wondering whether they are the right fit for officiating is to “just get involved” and see for yourself.

“Anyone who is already an official, I urge you to get your gradings up, diversify, don’t stick to one event and anyone thinking about judging, just give it a go – you have 11 years until Brisbane so why not start now.

“If you love the sport and you want to be around the sport then do it, officiating is great fun.”

Zoe was welcomed onto the International Race Walking Judging Panel in 2014, and this week she will be one of eight officials casting an eye over the Olympic events.

Positioned along the 1km loop for the 20km races and the 2km track for the 50km, Zoe said her job was to ensure that the athletes abide by the two rules of Race Walking.

One foot must at all times remain in contact with the ground, which differentiates running from walking, while the knee must be straightened at the first point of contact.

“It is the challenge of Race Walking that I love,” she said.

“You can run without thinking about it, but with race walking you have to think about keeping that ground contact and keeping that knee straight.

“In the 50km walk you see the best in the world starting to bend their knees towards the end, that’s because they are tired and I love that about it, you have to keep that technique so sound when you are exhausted.

“Like all athletes they give it their all, and as they are giving it everything we also have to give everything as officials.

“I just want to – and this is the whole point of being a judge – do my job to the best of my ability to ensure that the athletes can do their job to the best of their ability.”

Zoe said she was a javelin and discus thrower as a teenager before she found Race Walking.

Starting as a lap scorer she got involved with the SA Race Walking Club, before Australian Race Walking coach and judge Bob Cruise encouraged her to try her hand at officiating.

After receiving her accreditation Zoe stared judging locally and nationally, before being invited to attend the Oceania Walks Seminar where she was appointed to the Panel.

In 2014 she joined the International Walks Judging Panel and has since officiated at World Championships, the Paralympic Games and the Commonwealth Games.

“What you get to see and the knowledge that you learn along the way is incredible, I would recommend it to anybody,” she said.

“You get to see athletes at their best (and worst), and you get to follow their journey.

“Take Kurtis Marschall (2020 Australian Olympic Pole Vault finalist) for example, I remember Kurtis when he first picked up a pole and started jumping and look where he is now, it’s fantastic.

“We are an officiating family - we have a good time, a lot of laughs and I have friends from around the world.”

Despite her recent international experience, Zoe said she loved judging at club, state and national level as well as on the world stage, but said receiving her Olympic uniform was a moment she would never forget.

“It’s reward for all the hours I have stood out in the rain and the heat and the world-wide travel, but I have loved the journey because it is my passion,” she said.

“Having never been to an Olympics before (as an official) I am not sure what the experience will be like but when the gun goes and the race begins I know I will be switched on, for me it doesn’t matter if it is an Under 9s event or the Olympic Games.

“I was fairly nervous before the World Championships in 2015, my first international competition, but when those athletes went past me for the first time I was switched on as I had a job to do.

“When I hear that gun go and see those first athletes come down the road, that will be so special."

Contact Athletics SA to begin your officiating journey. 

By Josh Teakle