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Mackenzie Little threw her way on to the podium in the javelin final at the world championships on Saturday, a week after helping save a man\u2019s life at Royal North Shore hospital in Sydney on one of the many night shifts she juggles with athletics.<\/p>\n
The 28-year-old doctor produced her longest throw first up, hurling the javelin 63.58m. It was only eclipsed twice in the final, by Ecuadorian gold medallist Juleisy Angulo whose effort of 65.12m was a national record, and by Anete Sietina on the Latvian\u2019s final throw.<\/p>\n
The Australian\u2019s long early throw made for a nervous night. \u201cI spent the whole competition visualising the fact that someone would overtake me,\u201d she said, adding she was relieved when finally she knew it would be enough.<\/p>\n
The bronze medal was something of a surprise as Little struggled to throw above 60m for much of this year. Yet it was also a missed opportunity, given the Australian\u2019s single throw in qualification on Friday would have been enough to win gold. \u201cLook, it would have been great to throw it today, but if you\u2019d told me two days ago that I\u2019d get a medal, I\u2019d just be thrilled,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n