The lasting legacy Kenzie is most proud of

The 28-year-old from the small north-west Tasmania town Forth announced his retirement on Friday after 12 years at the top of para-athletics.

The highlights are world championships gold in the T38 1500m at London in 2017, and a silver medal in the same event at the 2016 Rio Paralympics.

He has five other world championship medals and a bronze from the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics, but helping set a standard for those following his footsteps is what he’ll hang his hat on.

“I think outside the actual events themselves it’s probably the thing I’m most proud of,” Kenzie said.

There’s been periods in my career where I’ve pushed doing 140km a week (training), which is right up there with what able-bodied athletes would do.

“It shows other athletes with cerebral palsy or a disability you are capable of doing it. You can push your body and see some good results.

“It’s just knowing what your capabilities are, and not necessarily accepting what other people think they are.”

After missing selection for last year’s Paralympics in Paris, Kenzie made the decision to call it quits.

He burst onto the scene with bronze at the 2013 world championships, and broke the world T38 1500m world record at a meet in Hobart the following year.

Kenzie couldn’t separate his world championship gold and Paralympics silver in terms of significance.

“Both are pretty special. Winning that world championships means so much because it’s my only world title, but both have their reasons for being special,” he said.

“Tokyo in 2020 as well, it was a really challenging year for a lot of athletes so to be able to come away with a medal in those Games meant so much as well.

“It’s definitely hard to pick out a highlight because there has been so many. I’d say Rio in 2016 just being able to share that with my coaches and my family, that was pretty special.

“I’ve had some amazing mentors over my journey which has been an amazing part of it. My coaches Mike Gunson and Philo Saunders. I’ve been very fortunate to have some great mentors and hopefully I can continue that legacy by helping some para athletes in the future as well.

“I’m from a town called Forth and we’ve already got a couple of athletes coming through, for a small town we punch above our weight. North-West athletics is in a great space at the moment which is great to see.”

Kenzie won’t be lost running, and is already targeting his next goal.

“The past couple of seasons have been really challenging and I’m keen to pursue other challenges outside the 1500. Now is the perfect time to do that,” he said.

“I’d love to explore some other distances, maybe a marathon and even a charity run.

“Knowing me it won’t be too long (before it happens), I’ve always got something on my mind.”

Originally published as The lasting legacy Kenzie is most proud of