Balancing the scales with courage and grace: IWD 2026

With #BalanceTheScales the theme for this year’s International Women’s Day, NSWIS has sought some of the most inspiring quotes . . . the lived philosophies  . . . from a number of its world-beating female scholarship holders to provide insights into what drives them as Olympians, Paralympians, world championship medallists and elite athletes to push on when others would most likely give up.

From Nicola Olyslagers, the IAAF’s Track Athlete of the Year to Summer and Winter Paralympian Lauren Parker – the words of these NSWIS athletes sum up an indomitable spirit and a relentless pursuit of excellence.

SOAP SUDS AND DREAMS

“When we were flying over to Monaco [to receive the 2025 IAAF Track Athlete of the Year award], I reflected in my journal of when I was 20 years of age. I was working in a cafe, washing dishes in the back, saving money to try and get some flights to compete internationally and I was so far away from being competitive.

“But in the back of that cafe, I would dream. I’d dream about places where I would try and compete if I could, and I would dream about what I would say to people if I could ever reach that level.

“Now standing eight years later on this stage and in front of each one of you, I want to say that it has sustained me back then in washing dishes and it’s sustaining me now on top of the world.

• Nicola Olyslagers, reigning World outdoor & indoor high jump champion, 2 x Olympic silver medallist

BE KIND TO YOURSELF

“A lot of the times, in pursuit of great athleticism, we often mistreat ourselves as people. You need balance . . . [so] be kind to yourself, know where your energy level is, and be really conscious of that.”

• Madison de Rozario, 2 x Paralympic gold medallist, 3 x world Para champion

STRENGTH BEHIND THE COURAGE

“I’m very lucky to have my family and to be guided by them. Mum is my coach, but dad is also there to ask how training was or to give me advice around the competitions and I think they’re two very passionate, incredible role models for my sister [Noemie] and I.

“Even my sister, she inspires me daily and I train with her daily, so I’m very lucky to have them as part of my life and part of our sport, nationally and globally.”

• Jess Fox, 3 x Olympic canoe slalom gold medallist, 14 x world champion

BE SCARED, BUT GO FOR IT ANYWAY

“I don’t find just snowboarding very dangerous, but there’s elements of it that keep me on my toes. And I’m definitely nervous doing those things, like hitting big jumps, for the first time.

“I think it’s a very good thing to be nervous and know the risks, but then to trust yourself in the process and then know that I can handle it . . .  that’s usually what goes through my head and how I handle those nerves.

“But they’re definitely always still there and I’m probably one of the more, I guess, nervous people . . .  outwardly . . . and I’m very open about how I’m feeling. I also kind of use that to strengthen my inner thoughts and know that I have the ability to do it.”

• Josie Baff, Winter Olympics snowboard cross gold medalist

SMILING THROUGH HELL

“It was really exhausting. I was sick constantly, weak and couldn’t get out of bed most days. I spent pretty much 18 months in bed not being able to move very much.

“I did get out as much as I could, but it was exhausting, it was draining and I was constantly not feeling well. It was a pretty tough time.

“At the time I tried to stay as positive as possible. I knew if I kept smiling and kept pushing through, I was going to be fine, and I had that mentality through the whole thing.

“I never let the thoughts of the worst that could happen pop into my head, I stayed thinking about what was the best that could happen, and the positive thoughts are what got me through it, I think.”

• Chloe Osborn, 2024 Paris Paralympic swimming silver medallist & cancer survivor

HUMANITY AND HUMILITY

“One thing I’m hellbent on proving to myself is I’m a person outside of being an athlete; having that balance in life is huge.

Even after becoming the world champion, I was really determined not to let that change me. I like to be a humble person . . . a hard worker . . . and keep things simple. I’m someone who doesn’t like to draw a lot of attention to myself.

“[I wanted] to have those elements of myself to remain true and not let things, and any successes, change me too much. That’s a big thing for me I’m determined to maintain that true essence of myself as a person.”

• Eleanor Patterson 2022 World High Jump Champion, Olympic bronze medallist

NEVER SAY NEVER

“I was out on a training ride [ahead of the Paris Paralympics] and for months I’d been getting my foot pods developed for my bike and the four bolts that were supposed to hold my foot into place came loose and [my leg] fell to the ground midride at 35km/h.

“My leg smashed into the ground, you know, I have no control over my leg, and it flung back, and I have extensive injuries with my pelvis and changes in my body I’ve had to deal with to get through since March. It came to a point where I had to stop chasing doctors to try and fix myself. I just needed to get preparation done for Paris. I just needed to focus my attention on that, and I’d sort my body out after Paris.

“When I had my accident in March, I thought my career was over – it was that bad. Thankfully it wasn’t and . . . I . . . overcome those setbacks and really pushed through. It was one of the hardest things I’ve had to do. A tough six months, but I was more than happy with my results [at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.]”

• Lauren Parker OAM, 2 x Summer Paralympic gold medallist, 3 x world champion, 2026 Australian Winter Paralympics Team member.

LEAP OF FAITH  

“Everything about high diving scares me, but that fear keeps me in the sport. It’s such a cool feeling to know you’ve overcome your fears. It’s a feeling that lifts you; makes you motivated.

“It’s such a hard thing to explain. I even find at 10 metres that when you accomplish something it makes you realise you’re capable of pushing past the barriers . . . the mental barrier, the barrier of fear . . . it’s such a good feeling.”

• Rhiannan Iffland, 7 x World high diving champion, 9 x nine times Red Bull World Series Cliff Diving Champion. 

STRIVE AND DRIVE

“Dad said: ‘if you’re the best, we ‘gotta’ go somewhere else’.’ His message to me was we need to continually strive and then, hopefully, the day will come when you’ll be the best.”

• Danijela Jackovich Olympic water polo silver medallist

PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE

“Sometimes we can get caught up in the idea that we need to be achieving this and that when you’re in your early 20s. But I think the transition from a junior to senior athlete can be quite difficult for some people.

“A lot of athletes give the sport away after they finish school, but I haven’t ever had a time in my career when I’ve thought: ‘oh, I’m never going to make it on these teams,’ or ‘I’m just not going to run fast enough’.

“I just trained and showed up. And that was my main takeaway when I made the Olympics. It came together because I just kept doing what I loved doing and kept showing up each day and striving to improve.

“That’s what I attribute to my making the Olympics. It wasn’t like I did anything fancy or that I was a superstar who was beating people or being amazing. I just kept chipping away slowly and I was gradually getting better and better.”

• Kristie Edwards, Paris 2026 Olympic Games 4 x 100m athletics relay team

VICTORY ISN’T ALWAYS THE PODIUM

“I do think that winning is just turning up to the start line, and, for me, I wasn’t going to be [at Tokyo after a life-threatening accident] in career best shape and we knew that. So, I guess, I really had to change my goals . . . but sometimes . . . a time on the board doesn’t reflect everything that you’ve been through to get to the start line.

“And for me, the time when the board did not reflect what the last five months had look like and we knew that. And I think being kind to myself and knowing that just being there and having gone through what I did was probably I guess I was it was a gold medal for me.”

• Sarah Carli, two-times Olympian

CONTROL THE CONTROLLABLES, ACCEPT CHAOS

“It depends on what’s happening in the day, what’s happening in life. One that’s got me out of strife as lot this year is ‘control what you can control and go and accept the uncontrollables.’ It’s a journey to try and do that, but ultimately you can’t control everything, so put your focus and energy into what you can control. That’s the beauty of life – the uncontrollable. It’s funny because I’m a black and white kind of person, I love maths instead of English, I don’t really like the grey area of an essay. I love maths has an answer and it’s black and white. Surfing’s challenged me, and I seriously think that’s what’s drawn me to surfing. It’s very different. It’s a very grey area, there’s no black and white. It’s up to your own  way, and will, how you want to surf a wave, your style. Yeah, it’s funny that I’m a surfer as I reckon it doesn’t add up to my personality. Like every athlete we’re drawn to a bit of a challenge and surfing has always challenged me.”

• Molly Picklum, World Surf League Champion

Daniel Lane, NSWIS