Bella medals on national debut

Above: Bella Sansom with her medals at the national titles in Canberra.

Narangba’s Bella Samson capped a remarkable national debut by twice stepping up onto the medal podium.

Bella, 10, won silver and bronze medals for Queensland’s team at the 2025 School Sport Track and Field National Championships.

The Year 5 student from Carmichael College in Morayfield, was runner-up in the 10-12 years girls' discus and third in the shot put.

Mum Sharon said her daughter is “very happy with her results and has learned a lot about herself and competing at this level”.

“We couldn’t be more proud of her as it was a tough competition. She enjoyed her week in Canberra.”

Bella only took up athletics two years ago and is already a two-time Little Athletics Queensland champion in both disciplines.

She has also broken club, carnival and regional records and with Deception Bay LA, won last season’s state 1100m race walk and this season’s 2km.

Mitchell Cooper, the ex-Australian international discus thrower who coaches at Deception Bay, said: “Bella is an impressive athlete”.

“Not just because of her achievements, but by the efficiency of her throwing, meaning she performs right at the physical limit of her potential.

“Not only does she absorb information fast, she’s able to implement it into her technique very quickly. The speed she can adapt is rare in throwers, especially for her age.”

Bella, who uses the full rotational technique, booked her place in Canberra by winning the discus and shot at the State titles in Townsville.

She threw 35.18m - only the second time she had gone beyond 35m in competition – to win the discus by more than five metres.

And in a nail-biter, produced a personal best 10.32m on her last throw to move from second to first and take the shot put by 39cms.

Bella’s career started two years ago when she won every event at her school carnival, collecting eight first ribbons and an age champion medal.

She joined Deception Bay LA and excelled in shot put, discus and the race walk.

While practicing the shot she was spotted by Garth Cooper – who with son Mitchell forms Cooper Throws Academy – and was invited to join his squad.