Life

Marathon Champions: Deek preparing Australian Indigenous runners for the NY marathon

In 2009, Australian marathon champion Robert de Castella started preparing four runners for the 2010 New York marathon. Not that surprising a story, you might think. However, the runners, Joseph Davies, Caleb Hart, Juan Darwin and Charlie Maher, all are indigenous men from Central Australia. For all, it was their first attempt at the 42.2km marathon distance. This journey has become part of an ABC documentary soon to be screened.

Robert de Castella or “Deeks” is a former world champion, world record holder and Commonwealth champion. Deek's outstanding career continued after his marathon career ended, with duties as Director of the Australian Institute of Sport and various health and community projects. His interest in indigenous health saw him team up the Indigenous Marathon Project to select and train four indigenous men for the marathon. The four men were selected from their remote communities in the NT and WA to run the marathon. The Indigenous Marathon Project is part of a ten year program to promote the sport to indigenous youth.

The project aims to provide an opportunity for young indigenous men and women to find healthy lifestyle leaders within their communities and inspire their family, friends and community to lead an active healthy life. This project and the documentary will serve as an inspiration to others. While no one is suggesting these athletes will go on to become Olympic runners like Cathy Freeman or Kyle Vander Kuyp, they will inspire all Australians.

From the red dust of central Australia to the city that never sleeps, this program follows a journey that you can’t miss. The journey from the outback to New York was followed by a team from the ABC (“Running to America”) and is set to be screened on Thursday 1st December at 8.30pm.

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