Play On says Montag to girls dominating world sport

To say that women’s sport is not having its moment would be to ignore the groundswell of good will and enthusiasm Australia’s female charges now feel as they take to the field of play.

For Jemima Montag, a world championship silver medallist in her own right, the shift is palpable and plays perfectly into the Play On initiative she established to inspire girls’ participation as part of the IOC Young Leaders Program.

“For the past four years I’ve been a part of the IOC Young Leaders. They selected 25 young people who were passionate about something and were keen to build a sport-based social business to address that local issue,” Jemima explained.

“For me it was easy to select that local issue, as being the decline of girls participating in sport because I have that lived experience.

“I remember playing sport since the age of three, getting to that critical adolescent age where my friends, my sisters, myself, considered dropping out and saying it’s too hard, all of the unique barriers that women face in sport.”

Play On brings Olympians and Paralympians into the lives of young girls at their schools or sports clubs, speaking with them when they are most likely to disengage. It gives them the knowledge and skills to continue their participation, in whatever form they are most comfortable.

“We talk in four broad themes. We talk about female athlete health, puberty, the menstrual cycle and navigating that as an athlete; mental health, specifically body image; body neutrality and acceptance, the focus on what our bodies can do rather than how they look; and finally, nutrition, where we talk about the environment and making them more welcoming,” Jemima explained.

“We don’t want girls to feel as though they are the problem. We want them to feel welcome and like they belong.

“My hope with Play On is that we get visible, rock star female athletes in front of impressionable young people to show them we can do it, and although the journey wasn’t one without complications, it is something that we can overcome,” the 26-year-old added.

Jemima knows she’s not alone in advocating for women’s sport and its value.

She credits the Matildas and their iconic leader Sam Kerr for changing the game beyond what’s already been achieved, as well as the likes of Tokyo 2020 gold medallist Jess Fox.

“I think the Matildas have redefined what a female athlete can be,” Jemima said.

“I remember watching them 12 months ago in the World Cup semi-final. They were fierce, athletic and competitive. But also really kind, great sportswomen. Now, female athletes and young girls have this visible role model of what we might become.

“Jess Fox is another one that comes to mind [on inspiration]. I remember watching her Tokyo gold medal and how excited she looked standing up on that podium.”

Paris 2024 is also symbolic because it marks the first time gender equity has been achieved on the field of play at a Games, and this is where women’s participation in the Games began. 

“The first women to compete in an Olympics were in 1900 in Paris, and it has taken until 2024 to have gender parity with equal numbers of men and women competing. It feels monumental to be a part of this Olympics, and I think I’ve become a role medal to girls too,” the Australian record holder said.

Jemima’s immediate focus is on racing in Paris and inspiring more girls through her fantastic performances. She will take on the best walkers from across the world at the iconic Trocadero - one of many landmark-based venues that celebrate the best of the host city.

She is the silver medallist from Budapest 2023, where she set the Australian Record of 1:27:16. This followed a fourth place at the 2022 World Championships and sixth at the Olympic Games in Tokyo. And two Commonwealth Games gold medals.

Jemima has been the most consistent elite walker in this Olympic cycle. There is an increasing weight of expectation that she’s working hard to use as the basis for continued success.

“Budapest was the first race in my life that I had the willingness and grittiness to take a big risk,” Jemima said.

“My race is 20-kilometres and just after the 15-kilometre mark a big, decisive move was made by the eventual winner. A few days prior, I’d already said to my sports psych that when the move is made, I’m going to have the courage to go with it.

“It was a big risk,” Jemima exclaimed.

“If you increase the pace in race walking you increase the chance of a penalty from the judges, risk blowing up and getting fatigued, risk that you’ve put yourself out there and everyone behind you closes the gap.

“I was proud of the moment, taking the risk, having the willingness. The fact that I was able to hold for a silver medal is exciting, and I knew that I had taken myself to a new physiological space because I had a big spew after the race, and I’ve never done that.

“It gives me confidence that I have what it takes, that mental willingness.”

The women’s 20km race walk will start at 9:20am on Thursday 1 August in Paris (5:20pm AEST). Teammates Rebecca Henderson and Olivia Sandery will join Jemima on the start line, will all Aussie women striving for that lifetime-best performance on the world’s biggest stage.

Earlier in the day (7:30am in Paris and 3:30pm AEST) Kyle Swan, Rhydian Cowley and Declan Tingay will be the curtain raiser for the women on the same iconic course in downtown Paris.

By Cody Lynch, Athletics Australia and Australian Olympic Committee
Posted 26/07/2024