The Mentor Advantage by Riley Day

The Sport Australia Hall of Fame Scholarship and Mentoring Program has given me insight into the life of an Olympian and an elite athlete. Debbie Watson, my mentor and I have been communicating regularly over Facebook as she lives interstate. She has shared her experiences at the Sydney Olympic Games and the effort and dedication it requires to be a full time athlete and an Olympic Games gold medallist. 

I feel very grateful to be constantly given handy and helpful advice from Debbie and I am using all relevant advice and incorporating it into my own athletics career. It has motivated me to train harder in order to achieve the goals I have set for myself in 2018. I am going to continue to train in Beaudesert on a grass track but I am slowly transitioning onto tartan by training in Brisbane once a week. I am also going to continue to race in Queensland but also travel interstate for competitions. 

When I was announced as one of the five scholarship recipients, I was extremely honoured and thankful; knowing I was chosen from thousands of very well deserving athletes. As I met the other scholarship recipients, I learnt how they trained and the sacrifices they had to make in order to succeed in their sports. It was definitely an eye-opening conversation for all of us. I’m excited to continue on the Australian Hall of Fame Scholarship and Mentoring Program with my mentor Debbie Watson, and develop myself as a person and an athlete.