| A mum's hurdles |
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JESSICA HALLORAN The Sunday Telegraph June 6, 2010 AT times, hurdler Hayley Butler says her life feels surreal. At times she is gobsmacked that she is going to the Commonwealth Games 16 months on from having her first child. "I can't believe it,'' she says. "I still pinch myself. I've been doing athletics since I was five years old. It was always just a dream of mine to compete for Australia.'' What started as a wild dream when she was pregnant with her son Cooper has become a reality -- with all its sacrifices. "No way in the world did I ever think after having a baby that I'd make a team,'' she says. "It's pretty surreal. It means the world to me to be going to Delhi.'' The love of her child has meant the hurdler will sacrifice valuable opportunities racing overseas to stay here in Australia. "I've made a lot of sacrifices with athletics, which I am more than happy to do because I love it, but a month away from my son is just one thing I couldn't do,'' the 26-year-old said. |