Country: Australia
Profession: Athlete- 400mH
Career highlights:
- 2020 Olympian
- 2019 Oceania Area Championships – silver medallist
- 2011 World Youth Championships – silver medallist
After coming back from a life-threatening injury, to line up in Tokyo just 5 months later must have been quite an experience! Can you tell us what thoughts went through your mind as you walked out on to the track to run in your first Olympic games?
Tokyo was my 4th 400m hurdles race in nearly 2 years. I was honestly just excited to finally be back out there. My mind was focused in on getting out fast, setting up my race and executing as planned. As always there was still a lot of nerves (but good ones). It was really different coming into a major competition without any expectations. There was also a lot of relief that it was actually happening.
You have been working with coach Melissa Logan since 2009 and have said you only started taking the sport seriously when you met her. Can you tell us what makes this such a special relationship?
I was 15 and Mel was 18 when we started our athlete coach relationship. We have both grown up together. Mel has never pressured me into training when I wasn’t ready for it (but has given me a good push when needed). It’s been a real gradual process for the both of us. She has always given me space to focus in on other areas of my life outside of sport. We also have such a great time at both training and racing. I think that’s what makes it work so well. We are just two great friends doing something we both love together.
It is really interesting that you are a fulltime financial advisor and an athlete – how do you fit it all in?
I honestly have no idea how! I’m always rushing from one place to the next. I actually left my job in June after my accident. I needed the time to focus on my recovery, especially if I was going to pull off making it to Tokyo. I’m not sure what I’ll do next; however, it’ll definitely be something with a lot less hours & closer to home.
What was it about finances that made you interested in it as a career?
I wanted to do something away from athletics. I always liked numbers and problem solving at school – a Commerce Degree seemed like the best fit. I only decided to do a Finance major because it gave me the best job prospects when I gradated (I had no idea what I wanted to do with it). I landed a job working full time as a paraplanner in my last year of university and found I really enjoyed the financial advice industry and decided to keep perusing that career path.
What is the strangest (or most interesting) thing that has happened to you in your travels around the world?
I did an internship in the south of India when I was 21 and got the WORST food poisoning one night. The place we were staying at had no running water or inside toilet. There was just a small out house style squat toilet without a light (a monkey had chewed through the cable). I remember laying in the dirt next to the squat toilet for hours. I couldn’t even keep water down. I have had food poisoning since but it has never come close to that night!
Where are you your happiest?
At the beach back home, with a good book, a beach umbrella & my friends.
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