Paralympian #183 Holly Robinson MNZM has set the ambitious goal of developing into a 15m shot putter to fulfil her ambitions for LA28.
The vastly experienced four-time Paralympian, who claimed gold and silver medals in the Women’s Javelin F46 at Tokyo 2020 and Rio 2016 respectively, is a relative newcomer to shot put, having only taken up the event seriously in 2023. However, the switch has so far proved successful for the versatile 31-year-old.
Holly claimed silver medals in the Women’s Shot Put F46 at the 2023 and 2024 World Para Athletics Championships before securing bronze at Paris 2024.
Having retired from javelin following Paris, she has continued to impress as a shot putter but acknowledges she must continue to improve to secure a podium finish at LA28.
“Just over two years out from LA28, we are positioned well, but I’m mindful that the event is moving on in leaps and bounds and I still have a lot of work to do,” explains Holly, whose current national record in the Women’s Shot Put F46 stands at 13.08m.
“To be on the podium, I know I am going to need to throw further.
“I have a goal of throwing 14.50m or 15m by LA28. I know that is a hefty goal, but if I was to retire after LA28 knowing I am a 15m shot putter, that would be very satisfying.”
Having juggled both javelin and shot put for two years, she accepted after Paris 2024 that she needed to specialise in one event. The javelin had taken a toll on her body and, after struggling with long-term Achilles issues associated with the event, the natural pivot was to focus 100 per cent on shot put.
“It was emotional knowing that I was coming to the end of my javelin career at Paris, but it also signified a new chapter for me,” explains Holly.
“Two years into that journey, I’m a totally different athlete to javelin-thrower Holly because the two events require different attributes. Since focusing on shot put, I no longer have the injuries I had for years as a javelin thrower, and my Achilles has settled down.”
One challenge Holly faced when switching to shot put was mentally accepting that, in order to throw further, she needed to increase her size. While societal norms do not always sit comfortably with putting on weight – particularly for women – she admits it was not easy.
“It was really challenging when I jumped on the scales and I was 2kg heavier after a big training block and my clothes started to feel a lot tighter,” she admits.
“At times I questioned whether I was doing the right thing. But I started lifting heavier weights and, when that started to correlate with longer throws and I began to see the fruits of my labour, it made things much easier. The people around me and my support team were focused on the numbers, and that was really reassuring.”
After winning Women’s Shot Put F46 bronze with 11.88m at Paris 2024, she underwent elbow surgery during the first half of last year. Despite this, and being restricted to just four competitions in 2025, the Dunedin-based Paralympian made significant progress.
Setting a national record of 13.08m last September, she went on to claim world silver in New Delhi with a best throw of 12.86m.
“It filled me with a lot of confidence,” explains Holly, who since the age of 16 has been coached by Raylene Bates, the NZ Paralympic Team Chef de Mission at Paris 2024.
“Thirteen metres was the number I had in my head, so it was nice to get there. But I know I’m capable of a lot more. I’m still young in terms of training age with the shot put and I have so much more to learn.”
Unfortunately, health-related issues have created further obstacles in 2026. A bout of COVID during the season forced the Para athlete to cancel three planned competitions and a subsequent issue with her eardrum has been far from ideal.
Despite this, Holly performed well at last month’s Oceania Athletics Championships in Darwin. Claiming gold in the Women’s Shot Para Ambulant with a best throw of 12.83m, before firing the metal orb out to 12.88m in the Women’s Senior Shot Put, placing seventh.
“I was hoping to throw a bit further. My ear had started to settle down the week before Oceanias, but the flying aggravated it again, which was frustrating. But I was happy with the distance and to win the title.”
Currently in the off-season, she does not intend to compete again until the 2026–27 domestic season. In the meantime, she can focus on training while completing a one-year Graduate Diploma in Teaching and Learning through Massey University.
Her long-term goal is to become a secondary school PE and health teacher, but before then she harbours some big Para athletics ambitions.
“I’m still motivated to throw far,” she adds. “Transitioning from javelin to shot put is a challenge that has excited me. I have some big goals in the gym, but the main one is to one day throw 15 metres.”
***We will continue to follow the fortunes of Holly Robinson as she targets a fifth Paralympic Games appearance for the NZ Paralympic Team at LA28.
