One of the most rewarding aspects of the day-to-day workings of a community newspaper such as Neos Kosmos is to report on the achievements of fellow members of the community, particularly if it’s about young people, making their first steps into greatness and a promising future. Louisa Lazar is a perfect example of this.
The 12 year old aspiring athlete took part in the Little Athletics VictoriaState Championship, at the Lakeside Stadium recently, coming first at the 800m. Run and third at the 1,500m. Run. “I felt proud and determined that, in future, I can win more things,” she says. “I’ve been trying to win one of these things for about five years.”If you’re doing the math at this stage, yes, this means that Louisa has been competing since the age of seven.
Her mother, Helen Tatsis, says it started even earlier.
“She was always very active, as a little kid, always running, she would never stop,” she says and remembers a day when a 3-year-old Louisa found herself on a track field and managed to do three laps.
“So my husband and I thought to put her to the Little Athletics Sandringham centre, so she can run for as long as she wants.”And Louisa Lazar herself certainly aims to keep running for a long time.
Now that the Little Athletics season has ended, she’s training to make the nationals for the cross-country championship in June. If she comes in the top-10 in Victoria, then she can makes the state team, reaching her short-term goal. From that point on, the sky is the limit.
Maybe she’ll follow the footsteps of her aunt Maria Tatsis, who took part in the 2000 Sydney Olympics, with the Greek Women’s Weight-lifting team. “I’m surrounded by athletes,” she says.
“My relatives have done lots of things in sports and that has inspired me.” That’s her Greek side talking, the one she says makes her “feel stronger” and helps her follow the strict disciplined regime of an athlete, sleeping early and avoiding sugar and following a different lifestyle than most teenagers.
She doesn’t seem to mind. Because she knows that what she has gained is far more important.
“Running has improved my self-esteem,” she says. “I’ve never been confident before. When I’m running, if I’m behind, I feel that the race can change, later on. I can get in front by pushing further and pushing my limits, even going past them.” If there’s a better metaphor for life lesson, I don’t know what it is.