Strive Sports International Women’s Day Event 2022
On the 8th of March, 2022 Strive Sport in partnership with Ballarat Rowing Association and the two local rowing clubs, Wendouree Ballarat Rowing Club and Ballarat City Rowing Club hosted an International Women's Day Event to remember.
We had three amazing guest speakers including Rosie Popa (Tokyo Olympic Gold Medallist in the Women's Four) Sarah Chibnall (Under 23 Gold Medallist from 1997) and Dr Sue Brown (Director of International Sport Management at Federation University). Unfortunately, due to COVID we had two speakers in Emily Shears and Hannah Every-Hall have to pull out at the last minute.
Federal Member for Ballarat Catherine King opened the event stating that Rowing was a great sport for the backdrop to an International Women's Day Event given it is a sport for all to participate and engage in. Thank you to Catherine King for coming along and being a great speaker to open our event.
Penny Johnston (ABC Journalist) was our MC for the event, looking amazing in her Suffragette colours of green, white and Violet with the letters to symbolise Give Women the Vote. Penny welcomed Strive Sport Director and Event Host Jen Szuster to the front to find out a little bit more about the motivation behind the event and the business Strive Sport. Jen shared her passion for creating an event to highlight female role models for the next generation to look up too. Strive is all about empowering the sports community to strive for excellence in all that we do. Director for Strive Sport Jennifer Szuster was pleased to be able to announce in celebrating International Women's Day Strive Sport would be offering two applicants a full scholarship to complete their Women's Leadership Program. We are offering a special discounted rate for those that are not successful with the scholarship.
Sarah Chibnall shared her rowing story of success and heartbreak. Sarah won a gold medal in the Under 23 Women's Four in 1997. As part of her training with the Australian Institute of Sport where the National Rowing Program was based at the time, she had a cycling accident that resulted in her breaking her neck and not being able to row anymore. Sarah has had to display significant resilience and determination in her recovery. Sarah is now a group director for Swiss Wellness. The skills that Sarah learnt during her rowing journey are what have helped her achieve success in her corporate roles.
Rosie's Olympic Gold Medal from Tokyo 2020
Rosie Popa Tokyo Olympian has had many heartbreaks and challenges on her journey after pushing for selection and just missing out in the 2012 and 2016 Australian Olympic Team. In sharing her story Rosie has displayed grit, determination and persistence to keep pursing her dream. Finally making it in to the 2020 Olympic Team to then be faced with floods during the selection trials and then COVID- 19. When the Women's Four arrived to compete at Tokyo they had never raced internationally. They didn't know how they were going to go. The crew had worked hard on visualizing the course in every training session leading up to the event. The crew had the added challenge of two crew members also competing in the Women's Pair event. All crew members had to be very good at communicating and making sure they trusted each other along the journey. These skills are important life skills that will support any rower on their journey through life.
Dr Sue Brown with her background in Sports Management was able to provide some research and context to what the rest of the panellists said. Sport challenges you and teaches you a lot about your strengths and weaknesses. Sport will help build your confidence and self-belief to achieve success in sport and life. Sue strongly encouraged all students to keep engaging in sport whilst studying as the research suggests the combination of sport and study makes you better at both.
All attendees intently listening to the speakers
We had three school students share their rowing journeys as well. With Jess Norton from Ballarat Grammar, Lana Dodd from Loreto Ballarat and Tia Broad from Ballarat High School representing Ballarat City Rowing Club. All three students shared how rowing has provided them a safe, fun environment for them to be themselves. Taught them to be organised and how to be determined. All three students were exceptionally eloquent with their speeches, and it was moving to hear them speak about how much rowing means to them. Strive Sport will be watching their journeys with interest.
To support the event, we had some amazing raffle prizes provided by the local business community. A heartfelt thank you to the following businesses,
- Elements Health and Fitness Studio
- Ballarat Sports and Exercise Rehabilitation Centre
- Lake Health Group
- UpMotion Pilates
- 776BC
- Lake View Hotel
Strive Sport would like to thank both Ballarat Rowing Clubs and the Ballarat Rowing Association for helping to make this event possible. We will be back to organise more events very soon. Sign up to our newsletter to stay informed!
