Louison-Roe Progressing in Leaps and Bounds | Pathway Transition Program

Talent alone has largely been enough for Izobelle Louison-Roe in her athletics career to date, but the versatile 16-year-old is now expanding her repertoire through Athletics Australia’s Pathway Transition Program – building towards matching the world’s best juniors at the 2024 World Under 20 Championships in Lima, Peru.

Already a star in the junior ranks, Louison-Roe’s 2023 Chemist Warehouse Australian All Schools Championships performance only heightened the anticipation for her 2024 campaign. The nonchalant teenager cruised over 1.86m in the high jump after a stunning 13.39m (+3.2) leap in the triple jump, not to mention a third gold in the long jump and bronze in the 100m hurdles.

“I mainly train for triple and high jump, the other two are just for fun. The training is complimentary for both and normally whichever one I am doing best in is my favourite. So after Perth All Schools, maybe it’s the triple jump at the moment, I was really happy with that,” Louison-Roe said.

Swinging by home to drop off her medals before heading to the Australian Institute of Sport for a camp with Athletics Australia’s Pathway Transition Program, the St George product is quickly adjusting to life with an increased focus on her athletic aspirations, all while maintaining the most important ingredient – fun.

“I don’t feel extra pressure or too much expectation. I feel like I’m really thriving because it gives me motivation and I’m just having fun with it,” Louison-Roe said.

“The program and the camp make me feel like my goals are more realistic and that I have a path to achieving them. It’s cool to have other young athletes from all around Australia and to be able to connect with them.”

Coached by her Mum, Karen and inspired by the flare of Yulimar Rojas and class of Eleanor Patterson, Louison-Roe has already represented Australia on the world stage at this year’s Commonwealth Youth Games – claiming bronze in the high jump.

“Being coached by Mum is actually good because we are on the same page most times, but we do fight a bit. We have a history of athletics in our family, Mum used to do high jump and all that,” Louison-Roe joked.

With an added emphasis on nutrition and recovery through the Pathway Transition Program, along with access to sports psychologists, biomechanics, physios and mentors, the high-flying teenager is setting her sights on competing at the 2024 World Under 20 Championships – having already qualified in the high jump. Personal coaches also attended the camp, engaging in education resources and workshops to strengthen their knowledge and delivery. 

“I’m super excited, I’m going to work really hard and hopefully I can get there for high jump and triple jump. I will have to do a double peak almost to make sure I’m at my best for both Nationals and the World Juniors, because those are the two most important competitions,” Louison-Roe said.

“It’s been good to learn about all the different areas, even with nutrition, I never used to really eat during competitions or worry about fuelling and recovery that much.”

Crunching the numbers with block start and stiffness testing at the Australian Institute of Sport, the former gymnast is balancing the High Performance side of her pursuits with one final year of Little Athletics – with no intention of switching to the heptathlon anytime soon despite her range of expertise.

“I get asked that a lot of the time, but I can’t throw at all,” Louison-Roe said.

With personal bests of 1.86m in the high jump, a windy 13.39m in the triple jump and 6.13m in the long jump, Louison-Roe is poised to lap up international experience in her teenage years – eligible for the next two World Under 20 Championships (Lima 2024, Eugene 2026).

More information about Athletics Australia’s able-bodied pathway can be found HERE.

Sample day at Athletics Australia’s Pathway Transition Program Camp:

7:30am – breakfast

8:30am – training / physical testing

10:30am – recovery

11:00am – cooking class

12:30pm – lunch

1:30pm – gym

3:00pm – psychology workshop

4:00pm – recovery

6:00pm – dinner

By Lachlan Moorhouse, Athletics Australia
Posted: 21/12/2023