Australian hammer thrower Lara Roberts has celebrated a breakthrough bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games with a cheeky message giving dad the green light to ‘rub it in’.
The 22-year-old secured the podium finish before her final throw, containing her emotions to let rip one last attempt before they all spilled out afterwards.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Surprise medallist gives dad the green light to ‘rub it in’
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Roberts had her hands to her face as she left the cage and sunk to the track when it all began to sink in.
“It’s just incredible,” Roberts told Channel 7 after the medal ceremony.
The competition continued even in the driving rain with competitors forced to battle serious puddles in the circle.
Yet her 68.05m peak on the night was not far off her personal best.
“I love the rain,” Roberts said, outperforming her pre-event ranking to finish third.
“If there’s anything about me I love these kinds of conditions. I train in it so I’m ready, I see rain I’m like ‘yes, let’s go’.”
The Queenslander said officials’ attempts to sweep away the water was pointless given the rain never stopped, adding the most important thing was that “no one fell”.
Memories of attending the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games as a child inspired Roberts to make it to the big stage herself.
“I’m sitting in the stands and I’m watching it,” she said.
“And then before when I actually went out there (I’m thinking) ‘I was down there, I’m competing, I’m one of the athletes I was looking up there now’.
“It’s just insane, it’s blowing my mind. And then I end up with a bronze medal!”
Roberts had called out “hi mum and dad” to the camera in her emotional celebrations, later revealing she tried to play down his high expectations.
“Dad’s going to be so happy,” she said.
“Before (the Games) he was talking about ‘try and bring some medals home’. I said ‘dad, no, don’t bring that, don’t talk about that’.
“OK dad, you can rub it in now. Mum and dad, everyone, are probably so proud — well not probably, they are.”
Watch the emotional moment Roberts secured bronze in the video below
Lara Roberts wins a bronze medal in the women’s hammer throw at the Commonwealth Games with a distance of 68.
Roberts was supported in Glasgow by family friend Helen from England among other friends and family, while an old coach is also on site.
Speaking to the footage of Roberts sealing bronze, commentators Tim Hutchings and Hannah England championed the emotions.
“(Roberts) is unable to hold it together. A medal, bronze, all the more unexpected, that explains the reaction. Just lovely, tears of utter joy,” Hutchings said.
“These athletes work so hard, relatively anonymously in the backwaters of some sports facilities, especially the hammer throwers — so often they’re stuck out in the field in the back so to speak.”
England added: “I think when you’re part of a team like Australia, so dominant, medals flying around the team hotel from all the sports and including athletics.
“In such a competitive team you might be led to feel like you don’t truly belong or you’re not really at the level to be competing here.
“Lara Roberts has really surprised herself there with 68.05m and she will add to Australia’s dominant medal tally here.”
Canada’s Camryn Rogers threw 74.91m, a new Commonwealth Games record, to win gold ahead of New Zealand’s Lauren Bruce (69.82m).
Australia’s Steph Ratcliffe finished seventh with a best throw of 64.01m.
