Growing up with a rare nerve condition meant Ella Sabljak could write her own rules for what she could achieve. Ella joins host Sam Squiers to discuss falling in love with wheelchair basketball as a kid (but not getting to play until later in life), missing out on the 2016 Rio Olympics and how she's helping to make school sports more inclusive. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
As the first Indigenous woman to play beach volleyball at the Olympics, Taliqua Clancy is using her platform to create change. Taliqua joins host Sam Squiers to discuss growing up 200km from the beach in regional Queensland, learning to love beach volleyball and how it felt to see her face on the Tokyo Olympic coin. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Playing for the Matildas has been Alanna Kennedy's dream since she was ten years old. Alanna joins host Sam Squiers to discuss the changes she's noticed in the women's game since she joined the Matildas as a teenager, missing the game-deciding penalty at the Rio Olympics and playing for the Tottenham Hotspurs in the UK Super League. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
As the daughter of two World Champions canoe slalom athletes, Jess Fox has been in the water since she was six months old. Jess joins host Sam Squiers to discuss making her Olympic debut at 18, leading the way for women in her sport and how it felt to break her parents' records to become the greatest individual paddler of all time. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Before Casey Dellacqua became a household name in Australian tennis, she spent years sharing hotel beds with her teammates and using her prize money to buy her own equipment. Casey joins host Sam Squiers to discuss the financial barriers to a career in professional tennis, the concussion that forced the end of her singles career and how it felt to read comments about her weight in the newspaper. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
An off-road vehicle accident threatened not only Caroline Buchanan's career in BMX and mountain bike riding, but her life. Caroline joins host Sam Squiers to discuss competing at the BMX World Championships at nine years old, how she used breathing to stay calm during a trip to hospital with a broken sternum and punctured lung and her two year recovery to get back into sport. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Weeks before Georgia Baker was set to pursue her dream competing overseas, she lost her dad to a sudden heart attack. Georgia joins host Sam Squiers to discuss how she grieved the loss of her dad, the accident that threatened her team’s chances at the Rio Olympics and why her best riding has come after being diagnosed with a genetic heart condition. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
A fear of rejection motivated Layne Beachley to become a world champion and determination, hard work and having the "compassion of a tiger shark" saw this dream become a reality. Layne joins host Sam Squiers to discuss what it took her to win 7 world titles, the mistakes she made on tour and how she's seen women's surfing change since she was the only girl in the water at Manly Beach. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Before Hannah Southwell played in the inaugural NRLW season, she'd already made a name for herself playing soccer and Ruby 7s. Hannah joins host Sam Squiers to discuss the pressure of being the youngest goalkeeper in the W-League, rebuilding her confidence after losing her spot on the 7s team and why you’ll never see her playing without headgear. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
A wildcard entry into the 2016 Red Bull Cliff Diving series saw Rhiannan Iffland take out the competition and progress from a rookie to a dominant competitor in the field. Rhiannan joins host Sam Squiers to discuss how she went from performing on cruise ships to becoming a four-time world champion, rebuilding her confidence after injury and how she manages fear when she’s standing at the top of a 20-metre cliff. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Breaking her back in an on-field collision has left Hayley Raso physically and mentally stronger than ever. Hayley joins host Sam Squiers to discuss being the only girl on her soccer team growing up, missing out on the 2016 Olympic team and how it felt to return to the Matildas after recovering from a broken back. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Five-time Gold medallist Madison de Rozario has loved wheelchair racing since she first sat in a racing chair at 12 years old. Madison joins host Sam Squiers to discuss the rare illness that led to her wheelchair racing career, being coached by her sporting hero, Louise Sauvage, and what it means to her to be the 2020 Barbie "Shero". See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Australian captain Meg Lanning grew up playing cricket with her sister but it was years before the women's game was broadcast on television and she realised it could be a career for her. Meg joins host Sam Squiers to discuss becoming captain at 21 years old, overcoming a season-ending shoulder injury and the pressure, and triumph, of the 2020 Women’s World Cup. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Traveling around Australia as a child with her missionary parents taught Matildas' goalkeeper Lydia Williams the value of humility, generosity and kindness. Lydia joins host Sam Squiers to discuss learning to play sport in the Western Australian desert, the growth of the women’s game in Australia and using her platform to create change. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
After a CrossFit gym opened in her suburb, Kara Saunders fell in love with the sport and started training every day. Kara joins host Sam Squiers to discuss giving up sport in high school, training while pregnant and what it feels like to be the second fittest woman in the world. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Growing up in regional Queensland taught Laura Geitz resilience and the value of hard work. Laura joins host Sam Squiers to discuss being bullied for her height during school, captaining the Queensland Firebirds and Australian Diamonds and what it means to be a Suncorp Team Girls Ambassador. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Turning setbacks into opportunities has been a consistent part of Ash Brazill's career. Ash joins host Sam Squiers to discuss becoming the first woman to play professional netball and AFL, remaining hopeful in spite of missing out on the Australian Diamonds selection and why her wedding went viral. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
When an eating disorder stood in the way of Hockeyroo Georgia Wilson’s chance at success, she knew she needed professional help to recover. Georgia joins host Sam Squiers to discuss growing up as the “hockey girl”, the impact her eating disorder had on her sporting performance and the value of meditation in managing her mental health. If this episode brought up any issues for you and you want to talk to someone about it, you can call The Butterfly Foundation on 1800 33 4673. See omnystudio.com/l...
Paralympic Gold medallist, Ellie Cole, started swimming as rehabilitation after her left leg was amputated due to cancer. Ellie joins host Sam Squiers to discuss growing up with a prosthetic limb, returning to the pool and winning Gold after a double shoulder reconstruction and why she gifted her niece an Ellie Cole Barbie. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Facing her fear of failure empowered Felicity Palmateer to conquer some of the world’s biggest waves. Flick joins host & sports journalist Sam Squiers to discuss why she ditched her pro tour ambitions to be a big wave surfer, how she keeps herself calm during a wipe out, and what she’d like to say to her Mum if she had the chance. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Being born without a left hand and forearm never stood in the way of Brisbane Roar defender Carson Pickett pursuing her dream of playing professional soccer. Carson joins host & sports journalist Sam Squiers to discuss growing up with a “uniqueness”, how she splits her time between Brisbane Roar and Orlando Pride and the heart-warming photo of her and a young fan that went viral. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Injury and suspension plagued Katie Brennan’s first three seasons of the AFLW as the captain of the Western Bulldogs. Katie joins host & sports journalist Sam Squiers to discuss moving from Brisbane to Melbourne to pursue AFL, how it felt to be involved at the start of AFLW and why she moved from the Western Bulldogs to Richmond. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Missing out on the 2016 Rio Olympics was devastating for Tiana Penitani but luckily it led her down a different sporting path. Tiana joins host & sports journalist Sam Squiers to discuss the impact of losing her father as a teenager, the injury that took her away from the 2016 Olympics, and falling in love with rugby league after 18 months away from professional sport. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
As a child playing sport, all Ellia Green wanted to do was impress her Mum. Ellia joins host & sports journalist Sam Squiers to discuss why she switched from competing in athletics to Rugby 7’s, how it felt to win gold at the 2016 Rio Olympics and how making her Mum proud is what motivates her. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Losing her sister as a teenager gave Australian cricketer Alyssa Healy a valuable sense of perspective on life. Alyssa joins host & sports journalist Sam Squiers to discuss what she learned by growing up playing with boys, the impact of losing her sister as a teenager and how she’s seen women’s cricket change over time. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Karrie Webb decided she was going to become a professional golfer long before women’s golf was even broadcast on television. Karrie joins host & sports journalist Sam Squiers to discuss learning to play golf in regional Queensland, why she doesn’t share her personal life with media and the how the Karrie Webb Series scholarship is increasing female participation in golf. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Sports journalist, Sam Squiers, speaks to elite sportswomen about their challenges, triumphs and setbacks, in an effort to get to know the person behind the athlete and learn what it takes to get to the top of their field. Coming soon See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
