Carla Krizanic announces international retirement
Another of Australia’s most successful Right at Home Jackaroos, Carla Krizanic, has announced her retirement from international and high performance commitments effective immediately.
The decision comes after months of diligent consideration, with the outcome ultimately being to prioritise her family, which consists of two boys under the age of three.
Krizanic has been a stable of the Jackaroos contingent since making her debut a decade ago in 2012, and has notched up 212 international appearances and has claimed gold medals at both of the sport’s pinnacle events, in the 2016 World Bowls Championships and twice at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games.
The Victorian shares the record for the most Commonwealth Games gold medals won by an Australian in bowls along with Natasha Van Eldik, the also recently retired Rebecca Van Asch, Ellen Ryan and Aaron Wilson with her efforts four years ago, an integral member of the national squad’s most successful games in history.
However, with the lack of events over the past two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 32-year-old’s family priorities are at the forefront of her mind.
“The decision has been a long time coming, we had Axel then a long break because of the pandemic and fell pregnant again in between,” she said.
“It’s a hard decision because I love playing for Australia and I still feel like I have a lot more to give but my life now is about my two boys and I hate being away from them.
“It was challenging mentally to give it up but easy because I know that my heart is somewhere else now.”
The Club Sunbury member is proud to have been part of the strong triples and fours combinations that saw the Jackaroos claim both events at the 2016 World Championships and 2018 Commonwealth Games.
But despite the illustrious accolades that Krizanic boasts, she notes that any win while wearing the green and gold has been considered a highlight of her glistening career.
“I think for me the most special part is probably the success we had with that triples and fours team that saw the same combinations win the World Championships and then the Commonwealth Games,” Krizanic said.
“To prove as a combination that we were able to back it up and support each other was amazing.
“But all in all every win has been a career high of mine.”
Krizanic remains committed to competing on the national arena, including at events like next month’s BPL16 at Club Pine Rivers, where she will once again line-up for the runner-up Melbourne eXtreme team.
She will also be in action at the World Champion of Champions event in Naenae after that as she bids for a world title.
Bowls Australia and Krizanic’s teammates support her request to step aside from international commitments, with Krizanic noting that she’s eternally grateful for the guidance of many throughout her career, including her coaches, club and teammates.
“Firstly to my coach Mark Cowan, he’s been my coach since I was 18 and he has been a massive part of my development from being a young girl to being Jackaroo,” she said.
“He’s always been there regardless of the ups or downs is someone that I can always debrief with after an event, a truly humungous part of my career.
“Steve Glasson was my coach for basically my entire career in the Australian team, and towards the end he was more like a father figure rather than a coach, he put the person first before the player and I have always been really appreciative of that.
“Gary Willis of course, as soon as he came into the assistant coaching role was when I began to feel more comfortable in the Australian team, he just has a way of making players feel like a part of the team and he’s extra special.
“To my teammates, and the girls in particular, the special memories that we have and the friendships that we have all hold a special place in my heart.
“A big thank you to Henselite, Club Sunbury and the Victorian Institute of Sport for supporting me as well.”
Since she picked up her first bowl, Krizanic has been endlessly supported by her family, who have often made the trips with her to events to babysit or just cheer her on, and she is now as eager as ever to share the next chapter with them.
“To my parents, Tricia, David and Tony, thank you for everything you have done for me over my career, your support has been unwavering and I will never forget it.
“Finally, my husband Tristan; we have put all of our other dreams on hold so that I can chase mine and now we can start to focus on chasing his dreams.
“I am very lucky that he has been so supportive in me chasing my bowling dreams and now hopefully I can return the favour for him.”
Bowls Australia congratulates and applauds Carla Krizanic on a scintillating international career.
