RATCLIFFE Julia

New Zealand

Athletics

Date of Birth: 14 Jul 1993

Age: 28

Gender: Female

Youth Olympian

Place of birth: HAMILTON

Birth Country:

New Zealand

Place of residence : HAMILTON

Residence Country:

New Zealand

Events and Medals
Records
Schedule
Bio
General Interest
Milestones

Events and Medals

Discipline	Event	Rank	Medal
Athletics	Women's Hammer Throw	9

Schedule

Change

Start Time	Location	Event	Status
	Olympic Stadium - Long Throws	Women's Hammer Throw Qualification - Group A	Finished
	Olympic Stadium - Long Throws	Women's Hammer Throw Final	Finished

Biographical Information

Highlights

Athlete:

Youth Olympic Games

Year	Location	Hammer Throw
2010	Singapore, SIN	Final B (50.49)

World Athletics Championships

Year	Location	Hammer Throw
2019	Doha, QAT	Qual. (70.45)
2017	London, GBR	Qual. (64.72)

Oceania Championships

Year	Location	Hammer Throw
2019	Townsville, QLD, AUS	1st (71.39)

Legend
SF - Semifinal, QF - Quarterfinal, 1R - 1st Round, Qual. - Qualification, QR - Qualification Round, DNF - Did Not Finish, DNS - Did Not Start, DQ - Disqualified, NM - No Mark, [Relay athlete without time] - Did not run in final

Occupation:

Athlete, Economist

Education:

Economics - Princeton University, United States of America

Languages spoken:

English

Club name:

Hamilton City Hawks [New Zealand]

Coach:

Dave Ratcliffe [father]

Start:

She began athletics as a hurdler in New Zealand. At age 12 her father bought her a hammer and began to coach her. (goprincetontigers.blogspot.com, 29 Mar 2021)

Ambition:

To win a medal at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. (stuff.co.nz, 04 Apr 2021)

Hero:

New Zealand long-distance runner Camille Buscomb. (Facebook profile, 03 May 2019)

Influence:

Her father. (stuff.co.nz, 04 Apr 2021)

Award:

While competing for Princeton University in the United States of America, in 2014 she was named National Scholar-Athlete of the Year by the US Track & Field and Cross-Country Coaches Association [USTFCCCA]. (prefaceproject.org, 24 Mar 2020; goprincetontigers.com, 24 Jul 2014)

General Interest

General
RIVALRY
She says that she enjoys having a competitive rivalry with New Zealand hammer thrower Lauren Bruce, and that Bruce's success inspires her to improve. "I've seen her training and competed against her for many years now, and not only is it awesome to see her reap the rewards of her hard work, but it lifts the bar on what you think is possible for yourself when you see people like you in your country, training in a similar way and doing the same thing. It's definitely increased the motivation a lot." Bruce set a New Zealand national hammer throw record in September 2020, beating the previous record held by Ratcliffe by more than one metre. However, Ratcliffe reclaimed the national record at the New Zealand championships in March 2021. "Seeing that New Zealand record go [to Bruce] wasn't easy. She was super supportive [after Ratcliffe reclaimed the record], came and gave me a big hug and said, 'Congratulations, and I will see you in Tokyo'. Her success doesn't take away from mine and vice versa. It's not me or her, it's me and her. Make no mistake we're out there to beat each other, but it's a waste of energy getting too wrapped up in that stuff." In May 2021, Bruce took back the national record once more at the Tucson Elite Classic in Arizona, United States of America. (stuff.co.nz, 04 Apr 2021, 23 Jan 2021; nzsportswire.com, 21 May 2021)

OCCUPATION
She works part-time as an economic analyst for the Reserve Bank of New Zealand. She has also worked as a private tutor and teacher's aide in New Zealand. While at Princeton University in the United States of America she was a gym receptionist and building monitor for the athletics facilities. "I find for me personally that if I train full-time and don't do anything else, I just go mentally stir crazy. I need to feel connected to something else outside of athletics, especially because hammer throw is an individual sport." (stuff.co.nz, 04 Apr 2021; rbnz.govt.nz, 01 Sep 2018; rnz.co.nz, 14 Apr 2020; LinkedIn profile, 01 Oct 2019)

OTHER ACTIVITIES
She has been on the board and the athletes' commission of Athletics Wellington in New Zealand. (athleticswellington.org.nz, 28 Jun 2019)

Social Media

Legend

:: Gold Medal Event
:: Silver Medal Event
:: Bronze Medal Event

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