I had to face a lot of hard truths in my preparation if I wanted to be a serious contender for the Title at the Touch World Cup. The biggest battle was knowing that I had to beat myself into submission. I knew it would come down to ‘Me vs Me’, and in the past, … Continue reading Reflections on Resilience – Coral Winiata
From the outside, the journey to success in sport looks more glamorous and easier than reality. What spectators see is the wonderful places people go and the highs when you’re doing well. What they don’t see are the frequent injuries, mental and financial stress, hours of rehab, and the social sacrifices to name a few. … Continue reading Reflections on Resilience – Keeley O’Hagan
In 2015, I got my first big injury two days before my very first international training camp at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra. I injured my sternoclavicular joint which unfortunately isn’t an injury you can just tape up with strapping tape and continue on training. I was devastated that I would miss all … Continue reading Reflections on Resilience – Qona Christie
Resilience, grit, stubbornness and mental toughness all contribute to your competitive edge in the sport of roller derby. Resilience is getting back to your feet after being knocked down over and again - literally and figuratively. Resilience is how you keep pushing when it is you against 4, and how you go around the track … Continue reading Reflections on Resilience – Claire Jaycock
“It has to get through ten other players before it gets to you” It’s a line I’ve heard a lot as a goalkeeper. That the ball has to get through the 10 other players on the hockey field before it gets to me. And if I miss it it’s okay because 10 other people have … Continue reading Reflections on Resilience – Rachel Lilley
How did you get into your sport? I got into my sport through my dad and brother. They both played cricket and at first, I would just follow along to watch the games. After my first few matches, it didn't take me long to get signed up at my local, the Tawa cricket club. … Continue reading Sportswoman of the Year Finalist – Sophie Devine
How did you get into your sport? I started playing netball just for fun because all my friends played. It wasn’t until I realised I was about a foot taller than everybody else and I learned to catch and pass then I started to actually really like this game and finally I have a good … Continue reading Sportswoman of the Year Finalist – Ameliaranne Ekenasio
How did you get into your sport? I started playing rugby in my last year of college at Wainuiomata High School, and only took up the sport because my friends were playing. My background before rugby was Netball & Basketball and had dreams of becoming a Tall Fern. My first year playing in college i … Continue reading Sportswoman of the Year Finalist – Jackie Patea
How did you get into your sport? I got into my sport through a pathway of many codes. It started off with me being a swimmer for 12 years (over time racing for both Naenae and Tawa pool swim squads) while also dabbling in a bit of netball (Naenae collegian united). Word got around to … Continue reading Sportswoman of the Year Award – Kayla Imrie
Seeing athletes on the television, at the Olympics for example, we assume that they train as hard as they can as much as possible, and are the fittest they can be, performing at their peaks. But what we don’t think about is the metal side of the training, and how much the athletes are having … Continue reading Reflections on Resilience – Bruno Ferguson
