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BlakMail Newsletter #2 – August 2026

NSW Institute of Sport

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Proudly presented by the NSW Institute of Sport (NSWIS), BlakMail aims to recognise, celebrate and support the outstanding achievements and stories of our First Nations athletes. We strive to foster a thriving community where Connection to Country, culture and sporting excellence go hand-in-hand, inspiring the next generation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander talent.

BlakMail is shared across many Nations throughout Australia. We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the lands, waters and skies where our athletes, communities and sporting organisations live, train and compete. We honour Elders past and present, celebrate the strength and resilience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and recognise that connection to Country continues to guide, inspire and strengthen our journeys.

FIRST NATIONS ATHLETES

To know our Culture, is to know true pride,
Great strength and resilience, carried deep inside.
We stay true to our peoples, waters and lands,
Still guided today, by our ancestors hands.
Continuing always to connect back to Country,
A legacy living through you and through me.

NAIDOC Week may have wrapped up for another year, but our celebration of culture, community and connection doesn’t stop there. Across high performance sport, our First Nations athletes continue to carry their culture with them – onto tracks, fields and courts, across oceans and onto the world stage.

This month, BlakMail celebrates some incredible performances from our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander athletes, while continuing to share the stories, people and connections that make our sporting community stronger.

DEADLY MOMENTS

SAIN x NSWIS – Connection Through Community

This month, NSWIS welcomed members of the Inner Sydney Aboriginal Interagency Network (ISAIN) to our Sydney Olympic Park facility for a morning of connection, conversation and relationship building.

The gathering brought together First Nations community members and representatives from across government, community and sport, creating an opportunity to yarn about the work happening across our different spaces and explore how we can better connect and support mob.

The day also provided an opportunity to share the initiatives underway through Connection to Country at NSWIS, alongside an introduction to high performance sport and the people and resources that support our athletes.

A deadly meeting filled with meaningful connections, shared experiences and conversations that we hope will continue well beyond the day.

FIRST NATIONS ATHLETES

Deadly on the World Stage

It’s been a huge few weeks for First Nations athletes on the international stage, with our mob proudly representing Australia across the Glascow 2026 Commonwealth Games and UCI BMX Racing World Championships. From medals and records to Games debuts and major career milestones, our athletes continue to show the strength of culture, representation and excellence across high performance sport.

COMMONWEALTH GAMES:

LAYLA SHARP
Biripi & Darug | NSWIS | Para Athletics
SILVER MEDAL – T38 Long Jump
Commonwealth Games Record

Layla Sharp produced an outstanding performance in the T38 Long Jump, claiming silver and adding another major international achievement to an already exciting season.

After heading into the Games having already broken the Australian T38 Long Jump record, Layla once again delivered on the international stage, this time setting a Commonwealth Games Record.

BRISEIS BRITTAIN
Gunalbingu & Njebbana | NTSA | Para Athletics
BRONZE MEDAL – 200m T38
6TH PLACE – 100m T38

At just 18 years old, Briseis made a Commonwealth Games debut to remember, claiming bronze in the Women’s 200m T38 in 27.66 seconds and finishing sixth in the Women’s 100m T38.

A proud Gunalbingu and Njebbana woman, Briseis grew up in Ramingining, where her love of running began on the community’s dirt tracks, often racing barefoot alongside family and friends.

Her bronze medal is her first at a major international championship, following her international debut at the 2025 World Para Athletics Championships in New Delhi.

THOMAS McGOUGH
Palawa | VIS | Para Athletics
4TH PLACE – 100m T38

Thomas made his Commonwealth Games debut, producing an impressive performance to finish fourth in the 100m T38 Final.

The young Palawa athlete continues to make his mark on the international Para Athletics stage and was part of a deadly group of First Nations athletes representing Australia at the Games.

CALAB LAW
Wakka Wakka | QAS | Athletics
Gold – 4 × 100m Relay
14th Place Semi-Finalist – 200m

Calab Law added another major international achievement to his career, helping Australia claim gold in the 4 × 100m Relay.

The Wakka Wakka sprinter also competed individually in the 200m, progressing through to the semi-finals.

LEXIE BROWN
Gumbaynggirr & Kamilaroi | QAS | Para Athletics
7th Place – 100m T47

Lexie Brown proudly represented Australia in the 100m T47, finishing seventh in her Commonwealth Games campaign.

Her appearance on the international stage adds another exciting chapter to the young athlete’s career and to the growing representation of First Nations athletes within Australian Para Athletics.

LACHLAN LAWSON
Ngarigo | NSWIS | Boxing
Quarter Finalist

Lachlan Lawson stepped onto the Commonwealth Games stage representing Australia in boxing, progressing to the quarter finals.

His Games campaign also marked an exciting opportunity for NSWIS Connection to Country to connect with another First Nations athlete within the NSWIS program and continue strengthening the network of mob across high-performance sport.

BMX WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

JACK DAVIS
Wiradjuri | NSWIS | BMX Racing
2026 UCI BMX Racing World Championships – Brisbane

After featuring in the first edition of BlakMail ahead of the world championships, proud Wiradjuri rider Jack Davis returned home from his training base in Florida to represent Australia at the 2026 UCI BMX Racing World Championships in Brisbane.

Jack finished 17th overall in the Elite Men’s competition. It was a disappointing end to the Championships, with poor weather forcing the cancellation of the final day of racing just as Jack was rearing and ready for some big rounds ahead.

Despite the early finish, 17th in the world is a deadly result and another performance Jack and his community can be incredibly proud of.

BOCCIA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

JASMINE HAYDON
NSWIS | Boccia

Bronze – Women’s BC3

A huge congratulations to Jasmine Haydon and Jamieson Leeson, who secured bronze in the Women’s BC3 at the 2026 World Boccia Championships in Seoul, South Korea!

FROM THE CTC NETWORK

DALLAS LOUGHRIDGE
Yorta Yorta | VIS | Basketball

An exciting new chapter is ahead for Yorta Yorta basketballer Dallas Loughridge, who is heading to the United States to undertake a college basketball scholarship with the Michigan Wolverines.

We wish Dallas all the best as she takes this next step in her sporting and education journey.

MARIAH WILLIAMS
Wiradjuri | WAIS | Hockeyroos | Hockey

Proud Wiradjuri woman and three-time Olympian Mariah Williams has been representing Australia with the Hockeyroos at the 2026 FIH Hockey Women’s World Cup in the Netherlands and Belgium.

Mariah produced a huge moment for Australia against Chile, scoring the equaliser with just 30 seconds remaining to secure a dramatic 4-4 draw and earning Player of the Match honours.

The Hockeyroos continued an incredible campaign through to the World Cup semi-final, eventually falling just short against Argentina, 1–0.

BJ OATES
QAS | Noonucal-Nughie-Goenpul man

BJ Oates, Connection to Country Advisor at the Queensland Academy of Sport, will take to the field this week as part of the First Nations & Pasifika XV, facing the Tonga President’s XV in Nuku’alofa, Tonga. The match will be played on Friday 4 September at Teufaiva Stadium and will contest the inaugural Kaume’a Ofi Trophy (Friendship Trophy).

“I just want to make my family proud, my culture and Cathy Freeman proud.” – 18 Year old Briseis Brittain after representing Australia at the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

CONNECTION IN ACTION

A Thank You, a Welcome Back & What’s Ahead
This month, we say a big thank you to Tanisha Williams, who has been supporting the Australian Sports Commission and the Share a Yarn program while Beki Smith has been on maternity leave.

Throughout her time in the role, Tanisha has worked closely with Connection to Country Officers across the country, helping to strengthen Share a Yarn and create opportunities for First Nations athletes to connect, grow and feel supported throughout their high performance journeys

Tanisha has now officially stepped into an exciting new role within Rugby League, where she will continue similar work supporting First Nations athletes within the sport. We are incredibly grateful for the care, energy and connection Tanisha has brought to Share a Yarn and our wider network, and wish her all the best in this next chapter. Thankfully, it isn’t goodbye, with Tanisha set to join us again at the Share a Yarn Camp later this year.

At the same time, we’re excited to welcome Beki Smith back from maternity leave next week. We look forward to having Beki reconnect with the Connection to Country network and continue the important work happening through Share a Yarn.

Share a Yarn 2026
Preparations are also well underway for the 2026 Share a Yarn Camp, with Jamie McPherson, Connection to Country at the Victorian Institute of Sport, working closely with the Australian Sports Commission to get plans locked in for this year’s camp.

This year’s gathering will be particularly special, with the camp set to be held on Jamie’s Country, creating an opportunity for athletes and mentors to come together, connect with Country and culture, share experiences and strengthen relationships across the high performance sporting network.

We look forward to sharing more as plans come together and celebrating another special Share a Yarn Camp later this year.

UPCOMING FESTIVALS IN NSW

Cooee Festival 2026

12 September | 10:00am-6:00pm | Blacktown Showground

Western Sydney’s COOEE Festival returns to Dharug Country for a vibrant celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture, featuring live entertainment, cultural performances, Blak businesses, market stalls, food and activities for the whole family.

FREE EVENT – No tickets required

Find out more about COOEE Festival 2026 here.
Cooee Festival 2026 – Blacktown, NSW, 12 Sept 2026 | Blak Nation

RECLAIM : A CONTEMPORARY CEREMONY

11-12 September 7pm-8pm | State Library of NSW, Sydney

Created by Stephen Page AO, Reclaim brings together dance, spoken word, poetry and music in a celebration of the resistance and resilience of NSW First Nations peoples.

Get your tickets here:
RECLAIM: A Contemporary Ceremony | State Library of New South Wales

DID YOU KNOW?

The first Indigenous Australian to win Olympic gold for Australia was Nova Peris as part of the Hockeyroos in 1996.

WORD OF THE MONTH:

Mittigar (Darug): Mittigar means “friends.” Shared with us by Trevor from Dalmarri, this beautiful Darug word reminds us of the importance of friendship, connection and community.