In 2021 you attended the Tokyo Olympic Games as the first New Zealand female to compete in the Trampoline event. What was your favourite memory from the 2020 Olympic Games and what surprised you most?
The Tokyo Olympics was a really unique experience, with it being a Covid Olympics. It was my first Games so I didn’t have anything to compare it too, and I tried to just make the most of the experience. My favourite memory would be waiting in the back of the stadium with all the girls pre competition – you could tell we were all really nervous, but we were chatting, laughing and getting excited, it was such a cool atmosphere. What was the most surprising for me was how busy it was, despite it being a Covid Olympics. There is a lot involved to make an Olympics happen, and there was always people around, particularly in the Village. This time, I’m looking forward to being able to mingle and chat!
A recent congratulations are in order it seems; we hear you’ve just been selected to represent New Zealand once more at the 2024 Paris Olympics! How did you feel when you found out you’d be joining the team once more?
It is an incredibly special honour to be a part of the New Zealand Team, there is such an amazing culture within. I am really excited to get into the Village with everyone and see what we can do as a team.
What goals do you hope to achieve within your sport in the next five years?
I’m still relatively young in the sport, but the next 5 years will have me hitting what’s considered peak age for trampolining – so really looking to push forward. I would love to attend another Olympic games (2028), and hoping break the world difficulty record for women.
As well as training and competing in trampolining, you have also recently graduated from UC? What advice would you give to a student trying to balance study and extracurriculars?
Yes! I spent 7 years doing my degree – I studied part time as I was training and working, as well as training full time. This was one of the best decisions for me, it allowed me to keep everything really balanced in my life, and not overwhelm my training which was the priority going into the Olympics – and that would be my advice; know what your goals are, make a plan in how you are going to get there, and then make all the other things you want to do, work around your goals.
What drew you to UC to study your Bachelor of Commerce?
It was a university that meant I could continue training with my coach, and was flexible in that I could keep up the level of training needed throughout those years. From degree planning, to the lecturers I had, there was a lot of support around me getting my education, whilst still training.
Any highlights from your time at UC?
I really enjoyed my time at UC. It is such a welcoming environment, and really encourages you to get stuck in. I especially loved my first few years, pre covid, there is so much going on and so much to get involved in. Towards the end of my degree, I was mostly studying from overseas.
