BY XENIA SANUT
Monash University’s athletes have reflected on their career-defining experiences at the Tokyo Olympic Games, as Australia’s Olympians begin to exit 14-day quarantine.
Seven Monash students were selected to compete at the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, a lifelong dream for any student-athlete.
Design and Business student Georgia Griffith lived out her dream, placing 14th in round one of her 1500m heat during her Olympic debut.
Despite no crowds at the stadium, Ms Griffith said officials and Australian team members ensured the atmosphere remained “exciting”.
“I knew [my friends and family] were watching and cheering me on back home and receiving their messages of good luck definitely helped fire me up,” she said.
Although her time in Tokyo has come to an end, Ms Griffith said she is determined to continue her middle-distance running dreams at future major sporting events.
“I’ll be trying to qualify for the Commonwealth Games as well as the next two World Athletics Championships, so I’ll be kept busy for the next few years,” she said.
Ms Griffith said she was thankful to Monash for allowing her to balance her studies around sport and giving her “a chance to switch off from the track”.
Sailor and Arts and Education student Tess Lloyd said the Olympics were not what she expected it to be when she and her partner placed 13th overall in Tokyo.
“It was still an amazing experience and I think all the athletes felt pretty special to be there,” she said.
She and her sailing partner Jaime Ryan have not yet decided whether they are going to compete in Paris 2024, but said her first Olympics has “made [her] want to do another one”.
And with Monash’s support, Ms Lloyd said the Olympics is possible for any student-athlete.
“I hope my journey has inspired some other students at Monash to take up some sport or start campaigning for the Olympics,” she said.
Program Leader for Monash’s Elite Student Performer Scheme Carolyn Gordon said it was a “privilege” to support student-athletes.
“I have been incredibly impressed by the students' approach to COVID and its endless uncertainty and they have shown such strength and resilience in such challenging times,” Ms Gordon said.
“Paris 2024 is only three years away, so a lot of hard work is ahead of [the students], but we are here to support them every step of the way and can't wait to cheer them on.”
The Tokyo Paralympic Games 2020 will commence from August 24 with Monash Masters of Dietetics student Isabel Martin set to compete in wheelchair basketball.