Amazing rise of Angela McAuslan-Kelly

Angela McAuslan-Kelly bridged the gap between growing up in an Aberdeen housing scheme and the hallowed halls of one of America’s most prestigious educational establishments.

How the hammer thrower went from Torry to Princeton University is a story begging to be told.

McAuslan-Kelly did so with talent, determination, and the kind of patience that is invaluable in athletics.

Now the GB under-20 international – who competed at the World Under-20 Championships in Colombia last summer – is playing the ‘long game’ again as she targets one day throwing in the very highest levels of athletics.

The story of her rise to prominence on a scholarship at Princeton University is being told in a superb new short documentary by (Aberdeen-based) Urbane Media for Scottish athletics.

“I grew up in Torry, Aberdeen in the North East of Scotland,’ said Angela, in the video ‘From Torry to Princeton’ about her athletics journey and moving to the Ivy League college in New Jersey.

“There are stereotypes about what Torry is like, it is a lower socio-economic place. I was desperate to get out and move somewhere else because I just wanna see the world like there’s so much else out there.

“But I never in a million years thought I’d end up in America.”

That’s what happened, however with parental support from as Angela progressed as a young thrower at Aberdeen AAC and then Scotland and GB and NI age group teams.

“I started when I was about eight years old because my mum thought I had too much energy,’ she added.

“I started hammer throwing in March and by August I was the British age group champion because I just went out every day and practiced for a few hours.

“I’ve had a good upbringing, I wouldn’t say my parents have the biggest income, but they work hard to give me a lot of opportunities, I’m very grateful for that. I never expected to be able to go to America, I never thought I was a good enough athlete.

Angela McAuslan-Kelly (Princeton Track & Field)

“Then at one stage, I received this email from Princeton. It was the first email from any US University.

“My dad told me not to get over-excited because I hadn’t gotten my Higher grades back yet, and I was quite nervous about that. So, I just thought, ‘This is really cool, I’d like it to work out’.

“I got my Higher grades back and it was five bands one A and then I threw a five-meter PB at Scottish Champs to my first Scottish gold. And I thought: ‘Oh wow, maybe, maybe this will happen’.

Within a couple of weeks, McAuslan-Kelly had been invited for a recce visit to Princeton and now she is there permanently on an athletics scholarship.

“Everyone’s really nice and I really enjoy living on a campus where everything is really close. I try and get all my classes scheduled for the morning so I’ve my afternoon free for practice.

“Typically, when we’re in season, we throw five times a week. We lift three or four times a week, and after that, I’ll go have dinner with my friends, and then I’ll just go back to my room and I’ll either go work a library shift or I’ll do my homework.

“When people think of a sports scholarship, their mind just goes to being a good athlete. But you also have to work tirelessly in school to get good grades because there are still steep academic standards you’ve got to meet to be able to go to America.

“I’ve had incredible support from my family. They spend so much of their time doing things to help me get my foot forward in life. They worked hard to take me to competitions. They came with me to South America in Peru to support me for the World Junior Championships.”

Angela McAuslan-Kelly (Bobby Gavin)

Fuelling the young hammer thrower’s journey is a drive to be the best athlete she can be. And McAuslan-Kelly has no qualms about aiming high.

“I do this sport because I want to be the best at it,” she said.

“And, to me, success in the future would mean, you know, going to World Champs and/or the Olympics. I’ve had so many other experiences from sports, I’ve made friends for life. Don’t be embarrassed about aiming high, because I used to think it’d be silly if I said, ‘Oh, I want to be Scottish champion, I want to be British champion’ because I just felt I didn’t have what it takes. Even though I was working hard.

“It just takes time and you just have to keep pushing for what you want. If you want to be a champion, it might take ten years, but eventually, you might get there. Even if it’s a small chance, just keep going and try. Have some belief in yourself.”

Training hard is a lifestyle choice for so many aspiring athletes but McAuslan-Kelly thinks everyone and anyone should consider how being active can benefit their mental health.

“Whether you’re doing it for a competitive reason or leisure, even if you don’t want to compete in a sport, I think it’s so good for your mental health to keep fit or go to the gym regularly,” said McAuslan-Kelly.

“If you want something you just have to keep pushing it. I never thought I would make it this far but I didn’t want to quit.

“If you’re anxious about getting into the sport and worried about how people will see you, don’t worry about it. People are worrying about themselves more than they’re worrying about you.

“My advice is: make sure you’re happy and enjoying what you’re doing.’

For McAuslan-Kelly that simply means: carry on throwing.