| AMY PEJKOVIC - high jumper Sonic Youth |
 |
|
The Sydney Morning Herald October 1, 2010 By Keeli Cambourne It can take years to achieve that intense inner focus required to reach the top in sport, but Amy Pejkovic has had it since she first pulled on a pair of spikes as a nine-year-old and cleared the high jump bar with ease. Now 16, Pejkovic's steely determination earnt her Australia's only medal - a silver - at the sixth International Amateur Athletics Federation World Youth Championships in Italy in July, where she jumped a personal best of 1.85m. "Amy has an uncanny knack of switching on and off; she can be mucking around in one instance, then stand up and jump a personal best," says her mother and co-coach, Leanne. It's that capacity to compartmentalise that has helped the Sydney teen achieve new heights in her jumping career, and also secure high-profile modelling contracts both in Australia and overseas(1). The long legs, natural grace and killer bone structure don't hurt either. "It's like I'm two different people, and with modelling I have to put on a character," she says. "I find it quite easy to transfer from the track to a modelling shoot." The eldest of three children(2), Pejkovic initially displayed talent in sprints, the triple jump and the high jump. Coach John Sharpe, from Sydney's Cherrybrook Athletics Club, spotted her and approached Leanne about training her in high jump(3). "She was nice and tall and jumped well compared to other kids in her age group - she was springing," he says. Pejkovic says she would love to make the 2012 Australian Olympic team, but knows 2016 is probably more realistic. "I'm going to finish school before I go over there [Europe] and work ... Hopefully I will be able to find a coach over there. After all, some of the best high jumpers in the world come from Europe."(4) THEY SAY John Sharpe (coach) "She has long legs, high hips and perfect body structure, and the mental capacity to compete at an elite level." Leanne Pejkovic (Mum) "Looking at her face when she won the silver medal [in Italy] was wonderful." Pip Williams (training partner) "It is great having Amy at training because it really makes us all try that much harder to succeed. She is very encouraging." Foot Notes 1| She walked the catwalk for David Jones when she was 15, and has modelled for Calvin Klein. 2| Sister Kaitlyn, 13, has qualified for the national swimming titles. Her brother Jarod is 11. 3| In the 2008 Pacific School Games she won bronze in the U16s triple jump and long jump. 4| Her most admired athlete is Croatia's Blanka Vlasic. |