Finding Her Why

For her, high jump is more than just a sport. It’s a family tradition and a personal challenge. With both parents having competed internationally – her dad jumping 2.20m for South Africa and her mum reaching 1.85m for Great Britain. She knew the bar was high (metaphorically and literally), but so was her potential.

She recalls the turning point being her first Queensland State Championship in 2020, where she surprised herself by taking the win. That victory showed her what she was capable of, and the drive to keep improving has only grown. She points to her 1.84m personal best, which she cleared comfortably even while rehabbing a knee injury, as proof of her untapped potential. She adds that with proper plyometric conditioning and heavy strength training, she’s confident she can reach even greater heights. Her current routine reflects her focus and determination. Each week includes two lower-body strength sessions, two sprint or running sessions, and two dedicated high jump technique and drill sessions. It’s a demanding schedule, but one she embraces wholeheartedly.

Her proudest moment so far came when she was handpicked out of more than 250 applicants by Olympic gold medallist Mutaz Barshim to compete in the “What Gravity Challenge”—a competition Barshim created to showcase the world’s best.

Standing on the same runway as Olympic medallists Eleanor Patterson and Yaroslava Mahuchik, alongside the top 10 female jumpers in the world, she proved to herself that she truly belongs on that stage.

The next goal she was set on preparing for was her first international meet representing Australia at the Pacific Mini Games in Palau on July 7. Even though she acknowledged it’s “not a high-level meet,” she was thrilled at the chance to compete alongside a team of 20 other Australian athletes with the hopes to set a new PB of 1.85m. She wore a bracelet she made herself, engraved with the number “85,” as a constant reminder of the goal she’s chasing. Impressively, she came away with the gold medal for Australia but not quite the new PB she was seeking.