World U20 Team Profile: Dominic Panozzo

5 July 2022

World U20 Team Profile: Dominic Panozzo

We continue our series of junior profiles in the leadup to the World U20 Championships highlighting 400m hurdler Dominic Panozzo.

After missing the World U20 team in 2021, Dominic Panozzo was determined to make the 2022 team. But he had to negotiate a busy year with his HSC, followed by injury. Things were dire when he ran just under 57 seconds in his first 400m hurdles in January. But coach Deb Walsham was confident in the plan. Going into Nationals he was still nearly two seconds outside the standard, but in the National U20 Championship he was brilliant, equalling the standard of 53.20 to place second and securing selection in the World U20 Championships team.

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Dominic Panozzo started his sporting journey playing soccer, but soon turned to rugby and athletics following his brothers’ footsteps into running. Dom recalled a shift in focus. “The big turning point came in year 4, unlike my brothers I had somehow weaselled my way through the school athletics system and managed to make state in the 800m. A surprise indeed. It might have been time to take things a bit more serious.”

In 2018 he meet his now coach Deb Walsham, who masterminded a move to the 400m hurdles in 2019 and by 2020 he had broken the NSW All-Schools meet record.

He compiled a remarkable 2021 season, running 48.37 for 400m and a brilliant 52.77 in the 400m hurdles. But the World U20 standard in 2021 was a very tough 52.09. He also won the National junior title and was fourth in the 400m, but alas missed selection in the 2021 World U20 team.

In 2021 he sat the HSC and that became a problem – the sitting ! He had eased back on training to concentrate on his academics.

“On my return in December, it seemed that all the static sitting and studying had left my body stiff and my hamstrings were the first to tell me.” Aiming to step up the training, he was rehabbing his hamstring. “The frustrating process to recovery was quite agonising.” Rather than rush back to training coach Deb Walsham took Dom’s progress slowly, ahead of a return. “My coach Deb reassured me, and we worked through the motions slowly weeding out niggles and kinks in my run steadily dropping my time.”

After running just 56.91 in his return race in January 2022, he improved to 54.96 in late February. But with Nationals a month later there were more setbacks.

“The journey had its hiccups; isolation from COVID and a bruised Achilles tendon that saw me in cutches at State in March.”

But he was determined and willing to throw caution to the wind.

“Nationals was around the corner whether I was ready or not, and after much stress and toil and sweat and maybe some tears here and there, I produced a World U20 qualifier in the final of the 400m hurdles placing second. Not a perfect race but an extremely happy result no less.”

In April, Dom was named in the Australian team for the World U20 Championships.

Despite his difficult athletics journey, when asked his biggest challenge, with great perspective, Dom felt he was fortunate. He noted his injuries and illness seem inconsequential. “All these small set backs take their toll and for me they have been a constant rigid mental battle. But since I can only really call these minor obstacles a challenge, I do consider myself quite lucky and for that I’m extremely grateful.”

Most influential person: His mum Sarah Panozzo “There were many times, especially this year where after travelling and registering and warming up, I just couldn’t run, I couldn’t compete. Not without furthering an injury. My mum was always there. At each step of this journey. That was very important to me.”… Advice to your young self: “I’m not so bold to believe that I’m currently wise enough to preach to my younger self, not quite yet. If I were to say anything, it might be to follow the passion…Hobbies: Spend time with people. A mate said to him - “the times we spend together are almost like little breaks from reality where nothing that happens or has happened outside of here really matters. You needn’t bring your worries with you just for a small time.”…Education/occupation: on a gap year, but working three part-time jobs. Considering a Civil Engineering degree.

David Tarbotton for Athletics NSW
Image: Dom Panozzo (courtesy of David Tarbotton)