Shannon McCann

Details

Category: Track & Field

How did you become involved in your sport and what events do you compete in?

I race the 100m Hurdles. I started running because my older sister ran and doing cross country running through the bush looked like a lot of fun.

Who is your sporting hero?

Michael Jordan

Age you started in your sport?

6

Height, weight, age?

170cm/60kg/23 (20/12/1988)

Accreditations/degrees/qualifications?

Diploma in University Studies Currently studying a triple major in Forensic Biology and Toxicology, Biomedical Science, Molecular Biology with a criminology minor

What motivates you to continue in your sport?

I have no idea how fast or how good i can be, so i run to find out just how much i can push my body and break my limits

What motivated you to start your sport?

My sister started little athletics in 1995 and she looked like she had so much fun and made heaps of friends so it wasn't long until i was begging mum and dad to sign me up.

What is your current business/job?

I own a small cake shop and am a cake decorator, making wedding cakes and all sorts of novelty and outrageous 3D cakes.

Who do you race for club/state and what is your competitive history?

I race for the Western Australian Institute of Sport (WAIS)I have competed for Australia in a few minor meets including World University Games and 2 appearances at the Great North City Games. 

2011 Made the semi-final at the World University Games 

2011 Represented Australia at the World University Games in the 100m Hurdles 

2011 National 100m Hurdles Open Womens Silver medallist 

2011 Achieved 2011 World University Games Qualifying time in 100m Hurdles 

2010 Represented Australia in 100m Hurdles at the Great North City Games 

2010 National 100m Hurdles Open Womens Silver medallist 

2010 Achieved 2010 Commonwealth B-Qualifying time in 100m Hurdles 

2009 Represented Australia in 100m Hurdles at the Great North City Games 

2009 Australian U23’s National Champion 100mH (record)

2009 Australian U23’s National Champion 400mH

People that have inspired you both in sport and life?

My mum is my biggest inspiration. she taught me to never settle. if you don't like something about your life, change it. If you want something, work for it.

Great experiences that have happened in your life?

Running in front of over 50 thousand people, traveling, Winning my first National title with my parents in the crowd watching, being given my first Australian uniform, watching myself run in England on Australian TV (that was pretty cool!), discovering i was a 100m hurdler, standing front row of a metallica concert.

Your interests and hobbies?

With full time training, owning a business and studying a triple major, my time is pretty limited but lately i have started playing Golf which is a lot of fun and teaching me a lot about myself, i am also an avid video gamer and self-proclaimed guitar hero legend. I also like to pick up my guitar as often as possible and i love watching romantic comedies.

One tip or quote that continues to inspire you?

Never settle for anything less than you deserve.

Family Background(where did you grow up) and Current Family

I grew up in the small North Queensland town of Innisfail and moved to Perth when I was in grade 2. i live with my mother, long time BF and our puppy, Cody!

What is your happiest memory?

My happiest memory was winning my first national title, in 2009 i had only be training for the 100m hurdles for not even 4 months, my parents made the trip to Adelaide and with them, my best friend and my coach in the stands, i won by a considerable margin and broke the meet record. two days later i won the 400m hurdles national title which topped off the happiest weekend of my life.

Who did you idolize growing up?

I wanted to be just like my big sister, Cheryl-Anne. She was a hurdler and won many national medals.

Were you always one of the better athletes growing up?

No, not even a little bit. I wasn't completely hopeless, i made national finals almost every year but i finished 7-8th on most occasions. I have lost a lot more races then i have won.

What is one thing you would share with the children wanting to follow in your footsteps?

hang in there. It might not be today, nor tomorrow, but if you work hard you really can accomplish anything you set your mind to, in any aspect of your life. believe in yourself, and nothing will stand in your way.

How has being involved/playing your sport changed your life?

I have been running for 17 years, i have no idea who i might have been without this sport but based on the people i grew up with, and the schools i went to, i don't think i would have had a bright future. My sport kept me grounded and gave my goals and purpose and stop me from doing stupid things like alcohol and drugs. My life in so much better with track in my life.

Who has been your biggest supporter?

My mother and my coach the two people in the world that believed in me before i ever believed in myself, they knew i could make something of myself long before i ever realised it.

Who has been your best coach?

My current coach, Jason. With my previous coaches, i was lost in the crowd, i don't feel they saw the potential i had and never really made me believe in my ability which ultimately made me never want to work hard for them. Now, i feel like im letting my coach down if i dont give it 100% everyday, he believes in me, inspires me and motivates me to be the best athlete i can be.

Sporting Background(sports you grew up playing) and list of achievements/results?

I played soccer for a few years, I got golden boot 2 years in a row (which means i scored the most goals in the league, averaging 3 goals a game) but at the end of the day i realised i only was good because i was fast, i had very little ball skill and I'm not much of a team player. after fracturing my leg playing, i decided i wanted to focus my efforts into running and haven't looked back.

Favourite Foods/Diet you follow?

I'm vegan, my favorite food is mash potato (with dairy-free butter and low fat soy milk of course!)becoming vegan was one of the best things I've ever done with my life. sure, it requires a lot more thinking come meal time but i am happier and healthier (both physically and mentally) since making the change.

Your typical training split and favourite thing to train?

i love 150m reps. LOVE them. i could do 150 reps all day long! i also love a good 200m hurdles rep session.

Worst injury you have suffered?

my back injury. I have chronic back pain from a gym accident that happened 2 years ago

What is the ultimate prize in your sport?

Olympic Gold

What do you find to be the toughest aspect of your sport?

the sacrifices. You cant have a normal life. its about eating porridge for breakfast every day when you don't like the taste. Drinking water, not soft drink. Loving cake and chips but not being able to eat it. you cant go out drinking all night and wake up the next morning for an early morning training session. But when you achieve your goals, you realise you would give up anything for that feeling. its so worth it.

What is your favourite movie?

The blade trilogy.

What one lesson did you take from your parents?

Don't let anyone tell you what you can and cant achieve in life. I can do anything i set my mind to.

How do you deal with temptation?

i remember what i want. When you are really goal driven, there is no such thing as temptation, there are just things that will make me run faster, and things that wont

What is your favourite music/band/song?

i like anything with a real instruments, a BAND. none of this electronic music or DJ stuff!love jimmy buffett, love mayday parade, love metallica, love blink 182, even love a bit of taylor swift haha

What is your biggest fear?

The unknown. eg, the ocean, space, death.Anything that we don't understand scares me, because i don't like not knowing what is out there.also, sharks. terrified of sharks.

Do you believe "never giving up" is the difference between making it and not making it in any sport?

absolutely. but you must not mistake motion for progress. a rocking horse has motion but makes no progress. you cant expect things to just happen for you, you have to make them happen

Have you ever failed at anything? If yes how did you overcome this?

yes, every day of my life i fail at something. it could be not getting my arms perfect, not eating to my meal plan, not putting as much work as i want into my school work. No body is perfect, and that's okay. as long as you learn from your failures, then they aren't really failures.

What inspired you to succeed?

people telling me i couldn't. i like doing what others think is impossible for me.

What did you want to be as a kid growing up?

a 400m runner. or a paleontologist!

Your future goals in your sports, and goals when you finish your sport?

Everyone wants to be an Olympic Gold medallist, if they tell you they don't, they are lying. Ill never "finish my sport" as i plan to run at some level until my body cant handle it anymore, but when i start taking my sport less seriously, i want to coach and keep our great sport alive and i also want to own a bakery on the cafe strip in Fremantle and i want to be a coroner/medical examiner

If you could have dinner with 5 people who would they be?

Michael Jordan, Barack Obama, Oprah, Tommie Smith, Martin Luther King Jr

What is one item you cannot live without?

Internet

People you would like to thank?(Sponsors, Coaches, Family or Friends)

Andrina Chien, AMAZING chiropractor who works miracles on me. Foot levelers, best orthotics in the world, plays a big roll in managing my back pain. The Human Herbivore, vegan dietician, base my life around their words. Western Australian Institute of Sport, Athletics Australia Target Talent program. Also, most thanks goes to my Coach, Jason, my mum, Louise, and my training partners.

Any further comments

www.shannonmccann100mH.com

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