Photo courtesy of Princeton University Track and Field
By Peter Jardine, Head of Communications
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.
Angela did so with talent, determination and the kind of patience which is invaluable in athletics.
Now the GB U20 international – who competed at the World Juniors in Colombia last summer – is playing the ‘long game’ again as she targets one day throwing in the very highest levels of athletics.
And the story of her rise to prominence on a scholarship at Princeton University is being told in a superb new short documentary by Urbane Media for scottishathletics.
‘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.’
Angela celebrates U17 medal success in Scottish Champs back in 2022 in her home city of Aberdeen (photo by Bobby Gavin)
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.
‘Then at one stage I received this email from Princeton. It was the first email I from any U.S. University.
‘My dad told me not to get over-excited because I hadn’t got my Higher grades back yet, and I was quite nervous about that. …
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