Star Sunbury bowler Carla Krizanic has been seen in Australian colours for the last time having announced her retirement from international and high performance commitments.
One of Australia’s most successful bowlers, having won Commonwealth Games and the World Bowls Championships gold, Krizanic played for Australia 212 times having made her debut in 2012.
Krizanic told the Bowls Australia website that her focus was now on her young family, which includes two boys.
“The decision has been a long time coming, we had Axel then [we had] a long break because of the pandemic and fell pregnant again in between,” she said to the website.
“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 has won a number of titles at state, national and international level. She said that any win while wearing the green and gold has been considered a highlight of her 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,” she 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 will continue to play on the national arena, including at events like next month’s Bowls Premier League with Club Sunbury’s Melbourne eXtreme team.
Krizanic paid tribute to those who had made a big impact on her career. She said without her family and partner Tristian Krizanic, it wouldn’t have been possible.
“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 humongous part of my career.
“Steve Glasson was my coach for basically my entire career in the Australian team… 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.”
