Australian discus champion Matt Denny has described the “brutal pill” he had to swallow following his father’s death in 2024. Denny, who won bronze at the 2024 Olympics, dedicated his 2025 season to his late father, John, and was determined to produce a major victory at the world championships.
Record-Breaking Throw and World Championship Disappointment
In April last year, Denny shattered his personal best with a monster throw of 74.78m, ranking him second on the all-time list. However, at the world championships later that year, he could only manage 65.57m to finish in fourth place.
“Yeah, that’s what made ’25 pretty difficult with world champs and the way that it played out,” Denny told Hamish McLachlan on Unfiltered. “Like, I never gave Dad a senior win. Like I obviously got Diamond League finals and stuff, but not to win an Olympics or World Championships and kind of give that moment to him and stuff was a pretty brutal pill to swallow once he was gone.”
Dedication and Emotional Aftermath
Denny dedicated his 2025 season to his father, promising to win the world championships. “I felt like I was ready to do it and had every capability to. But yeah, that felt like a bit of a rug pull. It was kind of out of my hands and I did everything that I could. To walk away from that comp and like having dedicated it to him, that was pretty brutal,” he said.
He added that it’s “tough” not being able to talk to his dad after competitions. “I think it’s one of those things when they’re gone, you kind of realise how good you had it and what you got from them. But it’s not until they’re gone that you’re like forced to reflect on that. But yeah, I think the hardest one was, like he would be the first person I’d call after things. So, you know, driving along and you have your Apple CarPlay, he’s top of the list and you can’t hit it. That’s a tough one.”
Unfiltered Interview Details
Unfiltered with Matt Denny airs 9.30pm AEST Wednesday following The Front Bar on Seven and 7plus Sport. Stream free on 7plus.
