Portia Bing has a “five-minute celebration” rule: if she wins, or does well in one of the seven events of the heptathlon, she gives herself just five minutes to revel in it.
And then, she makes herself switch to relax and recovery mode, looking after her body and mind in preparation for her next event. She has a physio at her side throughout the whole routine – the heptathlon demands that an athlete is constantly managing their body, switching from one discipline to another.
After each event, she reviews her technique and the factors that affected it – whether it’s fatigue, power, or speed. Accuracy across heptathlon is key.
Becoming a successful heptathlete requires a combination of raw talent and dedication. There are some disciplines for which an athlete needs to be naturally gifted in, but there are others that can be learned.
Twenty-two-year-old Bing is a born runner, but she pours hours of practice into improving her throwing techniques and fine-tuning her footwork for jumping.
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Her training schedule is strict and regimented. “You have to give the appropriate amount of attention to each discipline,” she says. “You break down the specific technical elements of each event, and then you drill them.”
Accuracy of technique is crucial, explains Bing, ranked 16th in the world at last year’s IAAF world championships.
“In javelin, if your technique isn’t perfect on the throw, then you distance will be way down. In running, the way you come out of a corner is key – it affects your overall time. And in high jump you need to see the line before you take your first step. When you’re running up, you have to stick to the line perfectly, or your lift-off will be askew.”
In training she looks for overlaps so she’s more efficient; some aspects of technique cross over a range of disciples. Bing has been working on her power – with so many of her events requiring swift, strong propulsion off the ground.
In competition, she has to be constantly calculating - mindful of the accumulation of points and how to get the most from her skill set. “You always have to keep in mind which events you’re better at, and how you can maximise your score in them,” she says.
The first event is always the hurdles, where Bing knows she can establish a good start.
Encouraged to take up heptathlon by her athletics coach, Bing says competing for her country has had “a massive impact” on her.
“It’s made me appreciate what we have in New Zealand,” she says. “It’s also something that many people dream of doing, so being able to achieve it is a huge accomplishment.”
Knowing she’s an inspiration for other Kiwis has also made an impression. “Especially with young girls, like my 10-year-old sister, who still have no limitations on what they can achieve.” She loves knowing that by doing what she loves, she’s inspiring her sister to follow her own dreams.
