Jason Belmonte - Two handed bowler.
World Tenpin Masters Champion shares his story on being named the World Bowler of the Year!
Every kid in Australia who loves sport will have a goal that he or she wants to reach. I had a goal, but what I achieved was leaps and bounds what I ever thought I could have achieved.
Orange, NSW is a small bowling town. I was born into the sport that I now love so much thanks my determined parents who decided to build The Orange Tenpin Bowl. Being born into a sport where the lightest ball in the early 80's was 10 pounds, bowling the conventional way would be practically impossible for an 18 month old baby, but this 'problem' not only gave me the edge over my competitors as I grew up, it also taught me a thing or two about NOT QUITTING. The style I have become somewhat famous for in the bowling world is my crazy but effective two handed style. Just like a rugby pass, I use two hands to create maximum hook and speed, allowing me to hit the pins much harder than a 'normal' bowler.
When I was growing up, I was told to stop bowling like a kid and use one hand by an Australian team coach. I was told by many that the way I was bowling was not only wrong but it was stupid and if I was to be a serious bowler I must quit bowling two handed and bowl like everyone else. Problem was that when I would bowl like everyone else, I lost all drive and all fun on the lanes. I was like everyone else and to me 'on the lanes' that just wasn't me.
My parents really hated to see me bowl and not have fun, they told me that if two handed bowling is how I wanted to bowl then so be it. I took my parents advice and used the criticism I had received as fuel to prove them all wrong. I remember one night I was laying in bed quite upset about the prospect of bowling only 1 handed, so I made a deal with myself, I wouldn't bowl one handed if I gave two handed everything I had. I wanted to be the best bowler in Australia and prove everyone wrong who doubted me.
Now dont get me wrong. I was not alone in this journey. I had all my family and friends for support and a coach named Doctor Ed. Kee who would push me.
Soon I started winning and winning big. I bowled a perfect game when I was 16 whilst overseas in Malaysia for $15000 which basically set my career up, traveling wise. By the age of 18 I was a dominant force on the national tour and before I could blink I was wearing Australian colours on my back.
I have now represented Australia for over 7 years and I have won 6 gold, 6 silver and 7 bronze medals for Australia, each mean just as much as the next. I have won almost every event in Australia on the national tour and have broken records around the world. I have won in Asia, Europe and in the hardest place of all, the USA. I have led the world cup twice both by record margins, only to have lost the final due to some ill timed bad luck.
I wanted to be the best in Australia, but like I said at the top, I exceeded my own goals.
In 2004 and 2007 I was named World Writers World Bowler of the Year. Basically, every bowling writer in the world casts a vote whom they think is the best, I have won that award twice and nothing makes me more proud.
I don't rub my success in the faces of those who once thought I couldn't do it. I now thank them.
It was those people who lit the fire.
You hear the words "I want to be the world's best" come out of many talented sportsman, but only the very few ever get to say I got there, I am so proud to say that I am one of the very few.
Jason Belmonte
Jason Belmonte was born in Orange on 29th July 1983 and from Kindergarten to year 12, he was educated at Kinross Wolaroi School.
With his parents owning the Orange Ten Pin Bowl, Jason started rolling a ball at 18 months and he started competing at the age of three and won his first event at the age of four. At the age of five, Jason had a League Average of 117 and a high game of 179.
In 2000, Jason became the first Junior Australian to shoot 300 overseas and in the same year, he took out five Gold medals at the Junior National Championships. In 2001, he was selected in the Youth Australia team, and also held a place in this team in 2002 and 2004.
Jason Belmonte - Two Handed Bowler - World Champion Bowler
World Bowler of the Year - Australian Tenpin Bowling Champion
Doc was a old school coach, the best old school coach anyone had ever heard of, so with my next generation style mixed with his train of thought we would clash more times than not. We had some arguments along the way, but I listened to him and learnt as much as I could. The man is brilliant and even today I think about the things he told me that helped back when I was 15 because they still help me now.
