Parnov sisters trying to make Aussie Commonwealth Games team
Posted: Fri Apr 16, 2010 6:21 pm
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/ ... 5854707499
Sister act to sibling rivalry
• By Jessica Halloran in Perth
• From: The Daily Telegraph
• April 17, 2010 12:00AM
THEY share a wardrobe and a dream. Sisters Vicky and Elizabeth Parnov have been known to have "little fights" over clothes but both admit their next battle has a far more precious prize.
The pole-vaulting teenagers are both intent on making the Commonwealth Games team and will compete against each other for a coveted spot at the trials in Perth tonight.
The pair have never known life without pole vault. They are the daughters of Alex Parnov, the coach of Olympic and world pole vault champion Steve Hooker. Their aunt, via marriage, is Tatiana Grigorieva, the silver medallist at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
As Vicky explains they practically grew up at the track and they love that. "It's normal," Vicky says. "We don't know any different."
Elizabeth adds; "It's always fun, exciting, yeah it's good."
Vicky, 19, is already a veteran of one Commonwealth Games team, Melbourne 2006, while Elizabeth, 15, is hoping to make her first senior Australian team.
It is Elizabeth who currently has momentum on her side and she has already cleared the Commonwealth Games qualifying height of 4.30m early this year. Vicky's form by her own admission needs a lift.
"She's pretty much where I am and I have to get my butt into gear," Vicky says.
There's a talented batch of women fighting for just three Commonwealth Games team spots tonight. The talented likes of Amanda Bisk, Olympian Alana Boyd, Charmain Lucock and the Parnov sisters are all in the mix to go to Delhi.
Elizabeth will look to Vicky for inspiration and support tonight.
"It's always cool when you have someone in your family that has achieved good things because you get motivated and stuff," Elizabeth says. "It's definitely a bonus."
"[My progression] has happened really smoothly.
"I am straight away up where she and the other girls are.
"It just happened naturally so it just feels normal."
Elizabeth started jumping when she was eight years old. Vicky started at the age of 10. They both idolise Steve Hooker, whom they train alongside every day.
"I'd love to be as good as an athlete as he is," Elizabeth says. "He's just amazing.
"We are all really close."
Vicky adds; "You think Steve has gotten this far. He started the sport when he was grown up. If he's started when he's a young adult and we've started as children, you know there should be good things to come."
Vicky says while they may be rivals, they are sisters first.
They will both be cheering for each other tonight.
It's an advantage they believe they have over the others.
"At comps we support each other," Vicky says. "She is always saying, 'C'mon Vic'. She is always very supportive of me. She wants me to achieve good heights just like I want her to achieve good heights.
"It's surprising because I thought there would be so much sibling rivalry. I thought we might be at each other's throats. I am surprised how well we do get along."
Outside of the sport they are just regular teenage girls. Immersed in Facebook they often message each other when they just metres apart, from their bedrooms. Then there is the wardrobe.
"Sometimes we'll have a little fight," Vicky says. "I'll be like, 'Liz where did you put my jeans?' But it's good to be so close in age and have the same fashion taste. We just share each other's stuff.
"The only thing is I wish we had the same foot size, so we could wear the same heels.
"But we don't, and that sucks."
Sister act to sibling rivalry
• By Jessica Halloran in Perth
• From: The Daily Telegraph
• April 17, 2010 12:00AM
THEY share a wardrobe and a dream. Sisters Vicky and Elizabeth Parnov have been known to have "little fights" over clothes but both admit their next battle has a far more precious prize.
The pole-vaulting teenagers are both intent on making the Commonwealth Games team and will compete against each other for a coveted spot at the trials in Perth tonight.
The pair have never known life without pole vault. They are the daughters of Alex Parnov, the coach of Olympic and world pole vault champion Steve Hooker. Their aunt, via marriage, is Tatiana Grigorieva, the silver medallist at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
As Vicky explains they practically grew up at the track and they love that. "It's normal," Vicky says. "We don't know any different."
Elizabeth adds; "It's always fun, exciting, yeah it's good."
Vicky, 19, is already a veteran of one Commonwealth Games team, Melbourne 2006, while Elizabeth, 15, is hoping to make her first senior Australian team.
It is Elizabeth who currently has momentum on her side and she has already cleared the Commonwealth Games qualifying height of 4.30m early this year. Vicky's form by her own admission needs a lift.
"She's pretty much where I am and I have to get my butt into gear," Vicky says.
There's a talented batch of women fighting for just three Commonwealth Games team spots tonight. The talented likes of Amanda Bisk, Olympian Alana Boyd, Charmain Lucock and the Parnov sisters are all in the mix to go to Delhi.
Elizabeth will look to Vicky for inspiration and support tonight.
"It's always cool when you have someone in your family that has achieved good things because you get motivated and stuff," Elizabeth says. "It's definitely a bonus."
"[My progression] has happened really smoothly.
"I am straight away up where she and the other girls are.
"It just happened naturally so it just feels normal."
Elizabeth started jumping when she was eight years old. Vicky started at the age of 10. They both idolise Steve Hooker, whom they train alongside every day.
"I'd love to be as good as an athlete as he is," Elizabeth says. "He's just amazing.
"We are all really close."
Vicky adds; "You think Steve has gotten this far. He started the sport when he was grown up. If he's started when he's a young adult and we've started as children, you know there should be good things to come."
Vicky says while they may be rivals, they are sisters first.
They will both be cheering for each other tonight.
It's an advantage they believe they have over the others.
"At comps we support each other," Vicky says. "She is always saying, 'C'mon Vic'. She is always very supportive of me. She wants me to achieve good heights just like I want her to achieve good heights.
"It's surprising because I thought there would be so much sibling rivalry. I thought we might be at each other's throats. I am surprised how well we do get along."
Outside of the sport they are just regular teenage girls. Immersed in Facebook they often message each other when they just metres apart, from their bedrooms. Then there is the wardrobe.
"Sometimes we'll have a little fight," Vicky says. "I'll be like, 'Liz where did you put my jeans?' But it's good to be so close in age and have the same fashion taste. We just share each other's stuff.
"The only thing is I wish we had the same foot size, so we could wear the same heels.
"But we don't, and that sucks."
