Casterton export Kathryn Mitchell to compete in Olympics final

The community has been buzzing this past fortnight with javelin thrower Kathryn Mitchell and Opals' basketballer Tessa Lavey at the Tokyo Olympics.

Three-time Olympian, Mitchell, is an inspiration for Casterton Secondary College students.

And her story will be told for many years to come regardless of how she goes in the women's javelin final on Friday at 9.50pm AEST.

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Mitchell progressed to the 12-competitor final after getting through the qualification round on Tuesday with a throw of 61.85 metres.

There's been plenty of excitement at Mitchell's former high school this week.

A photo of the javelin thrower has been displayed on the electronic sign at the front of the school.

The school's resource centre has been redecorated with Olympic rings hanging from the ceiling and a timeline of events and medals won since the Games started.

But it's what's happening in classrooms that will have a lasting impact.

Teachers and students are talking about Mitchell and learning an important lesson.

Principal Meridith Walker said the school and community were proud of her achievements.

"Her efforts and what she's achieved, we liken it to - you can do anything you set your mind to if you're prepared to put in the work and effort. You will be successful regardless of what you're trying to achieve," Walker said.

"That's the message we try to get across to the kids.

"And when we have someone like Kathryn Mitchell, she's a real role-model, she's a testament to being able to achieve success, regardless of where you come from.

"It could be a small rural town, it could be a major city somewhere. It doesn't prevent you from achieving your dreams and goals."

Mitchell's mother, Robyn Winch, is likewise proud of her daughter.

She still lives at the hobby farm, just outside Casterton, where Mitchell grew up.

Winch experienced an emotional roller-coaster watching the qualification round.

"To start with, when she had a fall on that first throw that brought tears," Winch said.

"Just not knowing whether she'd injured herself or whatever.

"And then when she pulled herself together again and did a reasonably good throw for her second throw - which we thought that distance would get her into the final - there were more tears of excitement.

"We were sitting on the edge of the couch, cheering on and talking to her through the TV.

"It was an unreal day and it'll be the same for the final, we'll be on the edge of the seat as well."

Winch said Mitchell's interest in javelin started when she was at Casterton Secondary.

"That came about because her sister Melonie actually won a javelin event at the school sports," she said.

"She was a couple of years above Kathryn and she won the javelin at the secondary school sports.

"So Kathryn got a little bit interested and thought 'well, I'm going to beat Melonie' so they bought a javelin home from the school and they just threw it around the yard.

"We've got a small farm and that was the start of the javelin throwing.

"Because early in her athletics, she did long jump and sprints. And then the javelin came probably at about 15 (years old)."

Mitchell is the youngest of her siblings and has an older brother, Charles.

Winch explained one of Mitchell's Casterton Primary School teachers, Kevin Barker, coached the javelin star in her early years.

"And Kevin has always followed Kathryn very closely, right through her career," she said.

Winch explained her daughter left home and moved to Ballarat to pursue her athletics career in year 12 - she has always been part of Eureka Athletic Club.

She completed her VCE at Ballarat High School.

Mitchell would study human movement at University of Ballarat (Federation University) and was coached by Lindsay Burgoyne.

She is currently coached by her partner, Uwe Hohn.

Winch believes her daughter's small-town upbringing has held her in good stead.

"A lot of people say what a nice down-to-earth person she is," Winch said.

"And I think that maybe comes from, apart from her just being a nice person, I think a lot of it maybe comes from her home life as well that she doesn't get treated like a superstar here.

"She's just our Kathryn.

"And things are very down-to-earth and very basic.

"And when she's home, athletics aren't talked about that much," Winch added with a laugh.

But when it's time to compete, Mitchell is all in and her family is cheering her on.

"We managed to have the whole family on the Gold Coast (Commonwealth Games) when she won the gold, which was great," she said.

"We've been to lots and lots of competitions.

"My husband and I, we went and watched her in her first Olympics in London.

"And then we saw her compete in the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.

"And then again on the Gold Coast and we would have been there in Tokyo, but COVID unfortunately stopped that happening.

"We're just extremely proud of her and what she's achieved. It hasn't been an easy road. She's had her challenges along the way like every athlete has.

"I think there are lots and lots of probably athletes, or young athletes out there that have the capabilities of making it to the top, but it's not only the commitment of the young person wanting to achieve that high standard of athletics.

"It's a commitment on the whole family. And I think we committed ourselves early on and said we would stick by her and do anything we needed to do. As long as she wanted to do it.

"We would never make her do it. As long as she was happy and wanted to do it, then we would be behind her all the way."

Casterton Post Office post master Melita Vise has kept an eye on Mitchell's career as well as Lavey's.

"Casterton is very proud of our two local representatives at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Win, lose or draw, they are still superstars in our eyes," she said.

"The Opal's Tessa Lavey's mum, Annette, grew up in Casterton.

"The Laveys bought my late husband Richard's family farm, Strabane, and moved to town in 2005.

"With this inside information and being the president of the local Wildcats basketball side, I made some calls and got Tessa playing with us.

"You could see at age 12 and 13 when she came to town, that she was going to be an awesome basketballer. I can't remember how many years they stayed in Casterton, but one year, Tessa even coached my son Dane's under 13 basketball side. Tessa was probably only 14 or 15.

"It's been great to follow Tessa's basketball career and she's even moved into the AFLW as well which has excited my daughter Kirby who loves playing footy.

"The town was so excited to see Tessa on the court playing so well in the only winning game of their (Opals) Olympic campaign.

"Kirby and I ran into Tessa earlier this year at the local river and she was only too happy to have a chat and photo taken with her. It's no different when we run into our other local Kathryn Mitchell who has qualified for the javelin final.

"She is always happy to share her time with us. She has had a tough time this year, but that doesn't stop her from keeping on going.

"When my husband Richard passed away from a 15-month battle with cancer, I had two choices, sit in the corner and cry, or just keep going. As my 12-year-old daughter Kirby said, Dad would want us to keep going. And this is pretty much what Kathryn said in her interview after qualifying 'What choice, what else is there to do, (just keep going)'.

"It was great to see how highly commentators Tamsyn Manou and Bruce McAvaney spoke of Kathryn.

"Unfortunately Tessa's Olympic shot at gold is over and I wish her all the best. I just hope we get to see Kath with that cheeky smile and she is holding a gold medal."

The Opals were knocked out in a quarter-final 79-55 loss to the United States.

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