Some would say I have seen every aspect of the sport the good the bad and the ugly. I began athletics as a child but at the age of sixteen I began to see the hardship of sport through numerous injuries which left me off the track for a while. Injury didn’t deter me but it changed my viewpoint as I turned to coaching as a way to stay involved.
I got to see the different side which was rewarding in a sense but I won’t lie it’s difficult to see people my age compete, in a sense I feel left behind with a lot of what ifs and what could have been. Athletics was a way for me to express myself or to destress, like it’s funny looking back. For my Junior Cert I ran two mile in-between each exam to reset myself.
By staying involved in athletics through active participation, it has led me to some amazing career opportunities in the volunteer space. From the age of sixteen I began as a volunteer coach with my Club Dunleer AC, when I got to third level I applied to be a part of the pilot Women Student Coaching Academy. The Women’s student coaching academy opened a door for me unknowingly. At the age of nineteen I realised the importance of networking, through the women’s student coaching academy I was mentored by former Women In Sport Lead Lily-Ann O’Hora. By networking with Lily-Ann I was able to carry out my three month internship with Athletics Ireland as part of my college degree. From there I worked under Rachel Ormrod and her participation team. Rachel instilled confidence within me to push myself outside my comfort zone and experiment with different programme and events. I got an in-depth insight into event management from the with Aileen Byrne right through to track and Field Live with David Matthews and lending a hand to Anthony white in the schools space. I threw myself into each opportunity. From those opportunities I was equipped with a skill to be a volunteer club administrator and coach for DKIT AC for the past two years.
My background in being a volunteer assistant starter and coach gave me the opportunity to be an Inspire Ambassador, which allowed me to network with likeminded individuals.
Athletics doesn’t define me but it certainly shapes who I am.However, if you were to ask me at sixteen did I think I would’ve achieved all of this in sport never ever would I of believed it.
So, for anyone who is injured and wants to stay involved in their sport, there are plenty of ways to stay involved whether it be as a coach, referee, administrator, official or promoting their sport through social media. It doesn’t begin and end on that starting line but there is loads of possibilities you just have to put yourself out there and say yes. In athletics there space for everyone.
