12-year-old javelin thrower Charlotte Pabari, who threw a championship-record 41.58m earlier this year, told Fen Regis Trophies that “going to the Olympics would be an amazing thing”.
The multi-talented Charlotte broke her own championship record when competing at the Hampshire County Championships throwing an incredible 41.58m. The young athlete, who also won gold in the shot put with 10.23m, only picked up a javelin for the first time in 2020 and harbours dreams of representing Great Britain at either the 2032 or 2036 Olympics.
While Charlotte has also won trophies at county level for tennis and swimming it is athletics and, more specifically, javelin where she feels most at home.
“Representing GB would be an amazing goal for me,” Charlotte said. “Two of my friends have done that and following in their footsteps would be amazing.
“When I get much older, going to the Olympics would be an amazing thing. If it’s not the one in Brisbane (2032), then the one four years after that.”
Championship Record
When Charlotte posted a distance of 41.58m at the Hampshire County Championships it was her own Under-13 record of 37.62m, set in 2021, that she broke. Not only is that comfortably the longest distance posted by any girl in her age group in the country this year, but it is also the third-longest of any UK Under-13 girl of all time.
Charlotte admitted that she was confident of besting her distance from last year coming into this year’s county championship, which took place in May, adding that it is her biggest achievement so far.
She said: “Not to take anything for granted, but when I did [break it] I wasn’t too surprised. I knew that I could throw further.
“I would say getting first in the UK two years in a row, third of all-time, and second in the UK for shot put is probably my biggest achievement, just because it’s such a high ranking that you wouldn’t ever expect two years ago.”
Influences
Charlotte was quick to point to her coach, Bronwin Carter, as being influential in her development. Carter has served City of Portsmouth Athletics Club for over 50 years and is a multiple world champion weightlifter, having started in shot put.
The experienced Carter has previously coached the likes of shot putter Lee Wiltshire, who represented Wales at the 1994 Commonwealth Games, and GB javelin thrower Richard Shuttleworth.
“My coach Bronwin Carter,” she said. “She’s amazing. She goes to the majority of my competitions and gives me advice – she’ll always come to my training…she’s just an amazing person.”
Others that Charlotte points to as being key influencers in her development, since joining the club in January 2020, are javelin thrower Callum Taylor and shot putter Serena Vincent, who also compete for City of Portsmouth Athletics Club.
“Callum Taylor has been a massive influence. He got his first GB best last season and the distances he does is absolutely incredible.
“Serena Vincent; her attitude to not giving up in the first instance and where she is now is just incredible. She’s definitely helped me a lot.”
Charlotte’s father, Manoj Pabari, added on the positive effect Serena has had on his daughter: “Serena Vincent has been very influential. Charlotte started her shot put first and then had a go at javelin.
“She was quite inspired by Serena and even now it’s very obvious that there’s a lot of inspiration.”
Future Goals
Highly driven, Charlotte is also hugely grounded and mature recognising that education must take priority over sports. While representing Great Britain at the Olympics is a dream, her main goal is to become a lawyer and, to achieve that, she knows that she has to work just as hard in the classroom as she does on the field.
“I always like to prioritise education as I know that will be where my career comes from,” she admitted. My coach Bron is very flexible with the timings and she is very accommodating.”
Charlotte added; “Getting a law degree in Oxford is one of my main goals…when I get older, my goal is to be a lawyer.”
Her father will be on hand to ensure that she remains on track with her studies, while also making sure that she enjoys being a child.
“Ensuring she gets rest and gets the chance to just be a 12-year-old,” he said. “It’s really important that there’s rest involved which is why she’s not going mad on any other sports. It’s a good balance.”
So proud of you Lotti!