Neuff Ambassador Fact File: Tara Simpson-Sullivan
Having experienced a host of highs in the US as an international student-athlete, the sensational Tara Simpson-Sullivan is now back in the UK and is here to share more of her experiences with athletics as a Neuff Ambassador!
Initially aiming to become a combined events athlete, a spontaneous encounter with the hammer throw at a competition completely changed the game for Tara. After the euphoria she experienced in her first few throws, she rapidly decided that this was the sport for her!
Tara is perhaps best known for her numerous accomplishments as an NCAA thrower, having recently spent five years of her life at Rice University in Texas. Consequently, her American successes have been widely documented, to the point where she has previously been described as being "the greatest weight thrower in Rice history".
Having arrived back in the UK last August, Tara is now looking to build on her tremendous throwing record, with her eyes firmly fixated on future appearances across many iconic competitions, including LA 2028!
Outside of her active lifestyle as a highly committed hammer thrower and full-time marketing assistant, Tara loves nothing more than to be a photographer in her spare time, as well as to read non-fiction when she is in a more sedentary state.
On top of this, in Tara's conversation with Destiny Ogali and Jack Henderson, she even teased that she may dedicate herself to writing a book of her own one day!
Learn more about Tara's terrific and awe-inspiring story by reading her Neuff fact file below!
What is it about hammer throw specifically that drew you to the sport?
“I wouldn’t actually say that I was immediately drawn to Hammer Throw!
Initially, I wanted to be a heptathlete or pentathlete in the age group that I was in at the time. I was doing a lot of shot put, high jump, long jump and hurdles. I really enjoyed the hurdles at the time.
There was a competition that I was at where my club was seeking promotion. As a result, points were crucial, so we needed to fill in all of the events to ensure that we could receive all of the points that were available.
My team manager then asked me if I could throw the hammer to help us get those crucial points. I agreed. But, to my confusion, I also asked, “what is the hammer?”.
I took off my spikes after finishing the hurdles race I was in and ran down the hill to the throwing area. I threw the hammer for the first time and managed to reach 18m, and came within the top three! To me, that was pretty good considering it was my first time doing it.
I was encouraged by one of the parents to head down to the track and throw more regularly, as he felt this could be something that I could thrive in.
Four weeks later, I qualified for English Schools. Twelve months later, I broke the U15 British record for hammer throw. After that, I was convinced that hammer throw was my main event.”
Was it quite an adjustment for you in terms of switching from the heptathlon to hammer throw?
“I was actually quite glad to have found something else that I was good at.
I really didn’t enjoy long-distance running at all. I loved high jump, hurdles, long jump and sprints in general, but I really didn’t enjoy the 800m whatsoever. It would always set me back mentally when I’d have to think about completing a full heptathlon or pentathlon. With that in mind, I was quite relieved to now find something else that I could compete in.
At that age, I was doing a range of different sports as well. It was really a case of trying a variety of things on offer and seeing where I would best fit in. It wasn’t until a couple of years later that I then decided to fully devote myself to hammer throw and athletics in general.
My mindset stayed the same. It was just a new event for me.”
Do you do any form of running in your training currently?
“If I can avoid it, I will!
I do sometimes have a couple of sprints in my training programme, but never anything over 60m. Fortunately, I no longer have to do any sort of long-distance running. Hammer throw is such a speed and power-based event that you only really need that quick burst of energy.”
Competing in the United States was quite the experience for you. What were your biggest takeaways from it all?
“I would definitely do it all over again if I could. It really gave me opportunities to develop not only as an athlete, but as a person.
Being in the US and being surrounded by the sport in all its aspects was hugely beneficial to me. The environment was great, especially in the fact that the people around you were all striving for the same things as you. The intensity in what we were doing was the same, even amongst those who didn’t share the same goals.
My biggest takeaway from the experience as a whole was definitely the fact that your training group can hugely impact you and your development as an individual. This can be either positively, or negatively. In my case, it was all positive, which was great. Your training group can massively impact the way that you view training and competitions.
I went to Rice University in Houston, Texas, and I studied there for 5 years.”
Do you have a particular memory that comes to mind when you reflect on your time in the United States?
“I’d say a lot of the competitions.
We would travel up as a team of around 20-50 athletes throughout the year, and so with that comes a lovely camaraderie that develops as you travel together throughout the season.
Having that extra boost from your teammates mentally is great, as it pushes you further to excel and exceed expectations.”
What would you say are your proudest accomplishments?
My proudest moment came during my fifth year as a Senior in college.
In that year, I threw my personal record. The season as a whole was a big struggle for me. I was dealing with a lot of injuries in the indoor season, which was difficult. Going into March/April, I was still dealing with the same issues. I really wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to compete outdoors that year. As a result of that, we were looking into a range of other potential options where I would maybe have to Redshirt.
It was a real struggle at the time. I hadn’t thrown that well either. I’d thrown around 65m, which wasn’t bad, but just wasn’t quite where I wanted to be at that time, considering it was my last year in the US.
Going into Nationals, I was quite apprehensive, but knowing that it would be my last time competing there, I decided to give it everything I had, regardless of whether I ended up getting injured in the process. I went into the competition quite relaxed, which was a new sensation for me, as I tend to be quite nervous. I managed to go into the competition and throw a new Personal Best.
In the first three rounds, which then required me to wait and see whether or not I qualified for the final, I remember sitting in the call room, thinking, “if it doesn’t happen, I’m so proud of myself for leaving absolutely everything out there”.
I received the news that I made it into the final, meaning I would have three more opportunities to throw. In the final, I threw a new Personal Best that was 6cm shy of 70m, and I came second.
Upon realising that I was second, I burst into tears. With the culmination of everything that had taken place throughout the season, that was the cherry on top for me.”
Interviewers: Destiny Ogali & Jack Henderson
Transcription: Destiny Ogali
Get to know more of the team!
Emil is just one of several athletes that make up Neuff's increasingly popular ambassador team.
Comprising of athletes from all ages, events and backgrounds, our ambassadors are living proof that anything is possible in athletics, and we proudly champion everyone who we welcome on board to our team!
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