SOUTHEND’S Rob Womack insists he must transfer what he does in training onto the competitive arena if he is to reach and succeed at the London 2012 Paralympics.

The 39-year-old, who trains at the Excel Health and Performance Centre in Eastwood, pulled on the British vest for the first time in three years at the World Championships in January, finishing a respectable seventh in the F54/55/56 shot put.

Womack’s performance at the time was controversial with his fifth throw of 10.93m, a new personal best, deemed illegal, only for a protest from himself see the decision overturned.

With the F54, 55 and 56 classes grouped together Womack was awarded a score of 946 with Poland’s Karol Wojciech Kozun winning gold, despite throwing 11.58m, narrowly ahead with 985.

Womack admitted at the time that he threw 11.16m in training and with the London 2012 Paralympics 500 days away as of April 17 he insists he must make it count when it matters most.

“I am a different athlete to the one I was previously and I was determined not to come home from New Zealand, with London 2012 in mind, disappointed,” said Womack.

“Finishing seventh was a positive, especially after winning the protest, but I know I could have showed a little bit more out there.

“I was throwing well in practice and I think one of my throws in practice was 11.16m and I have to concentrate a bit more when I get into the circle.

“If I can do it in practice then I should be able to do it when I compete and I have to make sure that what I do in training I can do when I compete.

“It is good to know that I have better distances in me, and I knew about 11.50m would be challenging for medals, so now I have to show it.”

Womack is hell-bent on reaching the London 2012 Paralympics having missed out on a trip to the Beijing Games back in 2008 after narrowly failing to hit the qualifying standard.

He has more than come to terms with the heartache and has vowed to do all he can to ensure that he isn’t singing the same tune on the way to the London Games.

“I really want to prove that I am good enough to get to London, I’ve changed a lot and I want to make up for not going to Beijing,” he added.

“That is acting as motivation, I accept that I didn’t do enough and it hurt, and I am glad I did what I did in terms of protesting at the worlds because every performance matters now.”

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