Hannah Buckling // Aussie water polo player with an incredible message to share

This weeks episode is with the incredible water polo player, Hannah Buckling. I caught up with Hannah whilst she was in quarantine after returning from her second Olympic Games in Tokyo. Hannah’s career in water polo started off with her being a little uncoordinated but flourished as she was stubborn and determined to improve. Hannah has had an incredible career throughout her years as an Aussie Stinger and in this episode she takes us through some of her highs and lows. Hannah touches on an important lesson that sport has taught her, of being compassionate to others and yourself, and I think with what is going on in the world right now it’s a timely lesson to hear.

That’s enough from me, you can hear from Hannah here.

Carol Cooke AM // Paralympian, 9x World Champion, Author and Speaker… it all started as a 7 year old with a dream!

Today, I’m coming to you with such an incredible guest, someone who has inspired me since I was a teenager for not only her sporting achievements but also what she achieved before she became a Paralympian and World Champion.

Carol Cooke started off as a 7yr old who had a dream of representing her country at the Olympics. In this episode Carol takes us through her journey through her early sporting career in Canada, her MS diagnosis and her journey though rowing and then onto becoming a 9 time world champion in cycling.

In this episode Carol takes us through the benefits sport has provided her, the lessons she’s learnt and the interesting backstory of how she came to be the founder of the 24 hour mega swim.

The 24 hour mega swim is an event I first discovered in 2012, and loved the concept so much that at the age of 16 I started a team and forced 14 of my friends to swim in a relay for 24 hours straight, raising money for MS. Carol takes us through the early days of starting the 24 hour mega swim and some stories of how the money raised has actually changed people’s lives.

If you’re interested in this event, or other events, like racquetball and badminton, mentioned in this episode, you can find the link in the show notes.

It was such an honour to be able to speak to Carol about some of her sporting achievements, but also learn more about an event that has been so pivotal in changing my perception on sport.

Part one is available here, and part two here

Sarah Carli // from life threating injury to racing at the Olympics 5 months later, an amazing attitude on sport

Today we are joined by the amazing Sarah Carli, now  that name may sound familiar. Sarah is recently back from competing at the Tokyo Olympics – but her remarkable recovery from a life-threatening freak accident in February, 5 months out from the Olympics, is something that won over hearts all around Australia.

You’ll hear how Sarah’s athletics journey started…all the way to how she found her way to the start line in Tokyo for the 400m hurdles.

Something that I really found incredible is Sarah’s attitude towards sport, humble and positive Sarah has such an incredible outlook in life and this makes me so happy to be able to share this chat with you.

Listen here

Rhemmy Gibbs // the journey from swimmer to national distance runner

This weeks guest is the lovely Rhemmy Gibbs. Former competitive swimmer and current distance runner. Rhemmy takes us though how she made the leap from swimming onto distance running as well as some of the highs and lows along her journey so far and what she’s learnt from it. Rhem and I have known each other for years, swimming at the same local club and now working together, so I know what a hard worker and beautiful human she is both in and out of the sporting arena.

Before we jump on into the episode a quick disclaimer that part of Rhemmy’s journey includes her experience with being body shamed. If you find any of this episode distressing you can find resources in the show notes.

You can listen here

Body shaming athletes is a form of mental abuse
Body image explained

Kate Eddy // Melbourne Vixens superstar… what it was like to play netball during the COVID 19 pandemic

Today we have the pleasure of being joined by Melbourne Vixens netballer, Kate Eddy. Kate takes us through the beginning of her sporting journey of playing netball with her friends as well as the journey for her to make it her profession, including a move interstate to step towards her dream, before making her way back to Victoria and playing with the Melbourne Vixens.

Kate’s passion for the sport and the love for her team really shines though in this chat, and there is some incredible life lessons that she mentions that everyone could benefit from hearing… I know since recording I’ve had to remind myself of some of them at times.

Kate is so bubbly and down to earth, so I really hope you enjoy listing to this chat as much as I enjoyed recording it.
Listen here.

Dr Jack Gerrard // what it takes to be a professional swimmer and junior doctor

Hello, and welcome back to beyond sport with Fiona Stewart, I’m coming to you today, during Melbourne’s 6th lockdown with an episode that was recorded two weeks ago during lockdown number 5. I don’t really have the emotional energy to comment on the politics of the lockdowns. There are so many people that are being effected, but I hope to think that the sporting and fitness community will be able to use the skills they’ve learnt through sport and physical activity to get them through these tough times.

Reach out to your friends and loved ones, move your body somehow…even if it’s just for 10 minutes – your mental health with thank you. This weeks guest has an amazing tip of taking recovery seriously, and to prioritise sleep.

Speaking of this weeks guest, I should probably introduce him. Jack Gerrard an Australian Swimmer who has not only represented his country in two world championships – but did so whilst studying medicine, and can now call himself a doctor!

Jack is incredibly humble and proves to everyone out there, that you can do amazing things both in and out of the sporting arena. In this episode Jack takes us through his early years in the sport and what got him hooked on swimming and the wonderful work he did as Club Captain of his swimming club.

It was actually a Swimming Victoria developing young leaders day where Jack and I met, back in 2014 and it’s been amazing to watch his achievements both in and out of the pool.

Jack recently competed at the Olympic Trials which you can watch on amazon prime, you can find his 100m freestyle swim in the day 4 of finals.

That’s enough from me, lets hear from Jack, you can listen here.

Maria Alexiadis OAM // Australian Karate competitor on the international stage, coaching and being on the Karate Victoria board

This weeks guest is Maria Alexiadis, an Australian Karate competitor who competes on the international stage. I had a chat with Maria whilst she was in hotel quarantine after returning from the Olympic qualifiers in Paris.

Maria not only competes, but also coaches and is on the Board of Karate Victoria, hoping to make a positive impact on her sport.

In this episode you’ll hear Maria’s journey and the passion and love that she has for her sport. Maria takes us through the benefit sport has provided her as well as the lessons she’s learnt along the way.

Something I really took away from this conversation was that with passion and determination you can really achieve great things, and Maria is such a great example of this.

I’d just like to thank friend of the show, Bruce Hyland, for connecting Maria and I. It was his wonderful guest recommendation that made this episode possible. If you have anyone that you know or would like to hear from then you can send me a message on Facebook or Instagram – and we can make it happen.

Part one available here and part two can be found here

Cam Elliott // the journey of a performance coach, amazing lessons and an interesting view on drugs in sport

 Cam Elliott a performance coach who looks beyond the athlete in front of him to the human that’s behind the athlete. My chat with Cam is split into two parts with this first part exploring what Cam does, how he got into the world of performance coaching and his motivation behind doing it.

In this episode we chat about the lessons Cam has learnt along the way as well as an interesting perspective on the future of sport, in particular the place of performance enhancing drugs in sport.

Listen to part one here, and part two is available here.

Sarah Blackmore // Gymnast, passionate Gymnastics coach and Australian Ninja Warrior

We are joined by the incredible Sarah Blackmore, gymnast, gymnastics coach and Ninja Warrior. Sarah represents everything this podcast is about, using her passion for sport to help positively impact others.

In this episode we learn about Sarah’s start to gymnastics and the work she is now doing as a coach, and in advocating for the future of the sport. As well as getting some insight of how she got involved in the Ninja community.

You may have seen Sarah’s face, and amazing ninja skills pop onto your TV’s last year, and might have even seen her pop up in this year’s trailer for Ninja Warrior, which airs this Sunday, 20th June on channel 9.

Part one available here

Sarah share’s the wonderful benefits sport has given her as well as the lessons she’s learnt along the way. We also gain some insight into her incredible charity events and fundraising efforts.

Sarah’s energy and passion left me feeling so lit up – so I hope after listening to this chat you feel just as full as I did.

Find information about the Paul Lyons Foundation in the link below.

The Paul Lyons Foundation

Listen to part two here

Tom Dade // the incredible world of ultra running and mountaineering

This weeks guest is Tom Dade, an ultra runner who thrives off challenging himself to push beyond the limits through some extraordinary adventures. Tom and I chatted virtually last week – as we are both in Melbourne experiencing lockdown number 4, about the incredible things that he has achieved at the age of 22, as well as some of the challenges he has faced along the way.

Tom’s got a strong message to believe in yourself and that you are more capable than what you think, this chat certainly inspired me, so I hope you enjoy this episode. You can listen here.

Before we jump in, just a quick warning that we do briefly touch on eating disorders early on in this episode, so if this is triggering for you, please feel free to skip the 6 and a half minute mark. If you do want to learn more or need assistance, there’s many great organisations out there, one being the butterfly foundation

Helpline

Find Tom on Instagram @tomdade11