Ballarat landscaper set to qualify for Olympic high jump spot

ABC NEWS (Australia)

A landscape gardener from Ballarat has leapt into Olympic contention. South Sudanese migrant Yual Reath is set to qualify for next month's Paris Games in the men's high jump. The 24-year-old has soared to new heights this year and has declared he wants to lead the next generation of high jumpers.

Transcript

00:00UL Reith has always wanted to make a name for himself.

00:06I am UL Reith and I consider myself a weapon.

00:11Now on the cusp of an Olympic dream, Reith's life began with challenges.

00:17Born in South Sudan, there were few opportunities and so his family emigrated to Australia.

00:23They settled in Ballarat.

00:25My fingers were just frozen and I'd never seen snow before.

00:28As a teenager, Reith wanted to be a football or basketball star, but his talent as a high

00:34jumper shone brighter.

00:36Just to see the natural ability to get off the ground was unbelievable.

00:41To earn money, Reith worked as a landscape gardener.

00:44It was tough because some days it was like I just can't go to training because my body

00:49is just completely destroyed.

00:51In August, he stopped landscaping and his performance on the track improved.

00:56When he stopped working full time, everything sort of fell into place for us.

00:59Reith recently cleared a personal best of 2.30m to win an event in Japan.

01:06Be more aggressive off your start.

01:08He's currently the highest ranked Australian in the world and a spot on the Olympic team

01:12beckons.

01:13I personally believe that I could be the next generation of high jumpers, but I don't want

01:20to say it yet until I prove myself.

01:22Paris or not, the future is really bright for him.

01:24The eldest of four siblings, Reith says he wants to make his hardworking mum proud.

01:30I want to reward her, spoil her.

01:32As soon as I get the big paycheck, I'll be like there you go, it's all yours.

01:36Jumping for family and for country.

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