Written By Ellen O'Brien
Rachel Birtles, a young, world-class pole-vaulter, flickers to life on the Skype screen.
After three years in the United States, she is always eager to hear a voice from home.
Having moved to Nebraska University, a track and field institution in Lincoln at 17, she plans to someday represent Australia in the Olympics.
Miss Birtles talks about the difficulties of living on the other side of the world and how she juggles sport and study.
“Sometimes I feel like people are always asking me for more, but I know that’s just part of the decision I made to come here.
“With classes and practice being at the same time each week you get into a routine, but there are times when I feel completely exhausted.
“Yeah, it’s physically demanding, but I’ve been doing this since mid- high school, so it’s a part of who I am now,” she said.
Talent identified early
In junior high school, Miss Birtles was poached from the athletics track by internationally acclaimed pole vault coach Alex Parnov. But the trial was shortlived.
“Why do you think Rachel left the best coach in the world?" says Ms Birtles’ mother, Vicki.
"It was because of him she left.
“Ever since she beat Vicky (Parnov) in one competition that was the end of her. You’re not allowed to beat the coach’s daughter,” she said.
In 2007, Mrs. Birtles saw her only daughter make the move across the Atlantic.
“It was a big shock at the start, just not having her around.
“As parents you think about when your kids are going to go, but you never actually envisage it.
“It would have been a lot harder for her though.
“Could you imagine travelling for one day, going somewhere you don’t know anyone.
“She had no computer to start with, and the telecommunications are different,” she said.
“I think being away from home and not knowing anybody was the hardest part,” says Rachel of those first few days.
Internet brings family together
“Now Mum and I talk on the Internet every day, we send emails, and sometimes letters,” she said.
Before too long Miss Birtles was adopted into the Nebraska University athletics family.
“Everyone here is just so friendly.
“It’s not like if you moved to LA or something, and having the track team is like having a second family,” she said.
Intense training
The official season is still months away, but the time Miss Birtles spends training puts most people her age to shame.
“We are not training as much now, because the season doesn’t start ‘til January.
“The maximum training we can do per week is eight hours, but that will go up to 20 hours in September.
“In a few days I am going to start swimming for one hour three times a week,” she said.
Anyone worried about binge eating should take a leaf from Miss Birtles’ book.
Few treats
“About once or twice a week I’m allowed to have a brownie with ice-cream for dessert,” she says with a smile.
"The Olympics is still too far away to decide anything, but I won’t be going the way I’m jumping at the moment.
"I got a new personal best at the end of last season though, a 4.3, which is the highest I’ve jumped since I’ve been here,” she said.
Tough competition
Her mother is more open.
“This year has been the biggest disappointment for her- she’s getting no new personal bests.
“She’s doing well at practise on the shorter approaches, but when it comes to the competitions, she’s just bombing out.
“Because she’s over there you can’t see what’s going on and why, so you’re not there to feel for her.
“When I was over there, for one training session, you could see she was just about in tears, because it just wasn’t happening.
“That really frustrates her.
“Because she started off so well, in the junior years, when at one stage she was ranking eighth in the world, and the Olympic dream… well she’s still got what it takes to achieve it and get there, but whether or not she will now after these setbacks, I don’t know,” she said.
The time and effort that goes into these young athletes is enormous.
“You can really feel for them. All the coaches, even the head of department are all trying so hard, frustrating that they can’t work out how to fix the problem, although they’ve tried everything to help her,” said Mrs. Birtles.
Pragmatic outlook
Despite these concerns, Miss Birtles is pragmatic about her future.
“I think I will teach math at high school, and if I stay in the US, hopefully I’ll coach pole vault as well.
“The Olympics is not the be all and end all.
“The only person who would really be disappointed would be me, and my Mum, but for me rather than in me,” she said.
Mrs. Birtles has supported her daughter unconditionally, and is not likely to stop now.
“My parents thought I put far too much time and effort into Rachel.
“They were surprised at the amount of time and effort, and commitment that I put into her ambition.
" think for Rachel, deep down she’s got the capabilities, but it’s the technicalities, it’s learning the sport.
"But if that’s her dream, what are you going to do?” she said.
“Say ‘no I won’t take you?’”
When asked about the idea of being labelleda ‘failed pole-vaulter’, Miss Birtles laughs and shrugs.
Clear message for critics
She has a clear message for any critics.
“Generally those are the people who only support athletes when they were doing well and then criticise them when they are down, and more often than not never achieve what they wanted out of life themselves.
"I have achieved more than I thought I would in many ways already, and if I never make it to a recognisable ‘meet’, I will still have had a pretty successful career.”
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