Next Gen Jem | Montag’s Mission to keep Girls in Sport

Within reach of an elusive Olympic gold medal which most consider the ultimate legacy item, Jemima Montag is ensuring her impact transcends results through the Play On initiative, working to keep young girls engaged with sport through a program she describes as “my gift to my younger self”.

One of many women driving positive change in Australian and global athletics ahead of International Women’s Day 2024, Montag borrows the little cheesy line from Ghandi of “be the change you want to see in the world” as the inspiration for her passion and proactivity in the space.

“Play On is an initiative that equips young girls with the knowledge and skills they need to stay engaged with physical activity. We are a mixed team of seven Olympic and Paralympic female athletes who give presentations at schools, focusing on the four important themes: female health literacy, body image, nutrition, and inclusive environments,” Montag says.

Designing Play On in 2021 through her role in the Internation Olympic Committee’s Young Leaders program featuring 25 young leaders from around the world, the race walker has leant on expert sessions, mentoring and financial assistance to bring her passion project to life – synchronised with her rise to stardom on the world stage.

“This feels like my gift to my younger self. The initiatives that I create or support are the ones that I wish existed when I was 12-18 and felt confused, lost, and dubious about my place on the sporting field,” Montag says.

“It’s only now at 26 that I can see all of the gifts I’ve reaped from staying engaged with sport; life lessons like self-awareness, diligence, confidence, teamwork, and vulnerability. The women I see at training each day at the Victorian Institute of Sport - be they athletes, coaches, doctors, whomever – that are engaged in sport – they have X-factor!

“They have been able to translate those skills into their personal lives, relationships, workplaces – and that is where I believe sport has the power to make leaps towards the fifth Sustainable Development Goal of gender equality.”

Already a two-time Commonwealth champion and 2023 World Championships silver medallist, Montag has her eyes set on gold at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games which would cement her status as an Australian great, but the national record holder is out to make a more permanent impact.

“I think these programs will have a more lasting impact than anything I can do on the track. Exciting athletic results are great on the day and for a little while longer, they make friends and family feel proud or exhilarated, but records are broken and races fade into distant memory,” Montag says.

“I feel as though there is no limit to the impact that initiatives like Play On can have. I hope to continue to grow our team of presenters from seven women in Victoria to 100’s across the country, and by empowering the next generation of girls to stay engaged in physical activity, we will indirectly impact the course of their lives ongoing.”

When it comes to practicing what she preaches, Montag is front and centre. Both the founder and key speaker at Play On, the 26-year-old is also leading Australia’s rising race walking ranks, by both example and experience.

“In January we had about 50 racewalkers on an altitude camp in Perisher Valley. I noticed that there were many junior girls who were at the critical stage where research shows they are twice as likely to give up sport than their male counterparts,” Montag says.

“I have some examples of how to balance Year 11/12 with training, working on race walking technique, mindset, relationship with food, use of social media, comparison to ‘normal’ people. We sat in a little girls circle of trust for a number of hours and I felt so content afterwards because I saw my younger self in their faces and I know that I’ve given them a gift.”

While the countdown is on for the Olympic Games in Paris, Montag is continuing with interactive school visits during which she rewards engaged students with Australian uniform, with International Women’s Day giving her a chance to reflect on her impact:

“This International Women’s Day I feel most proud of my ability to break down this challenge of retaining women and girls in sport, working out what the unique barriers and enablers are, and building a great program that is already creating that change I want to see.”

To book a session with Play On, click HERE.

By Lachlan Moorhouse, Athletics Australia
Posted: 6/3/2024