NSWIS coach Jake Michael receives national award

Jake Michael, the Head Coach of the New South Wales Institute of Sport’s Canoe Sprint Program, was presented with a prestigious national award for his efforts as a member of the Australian Paralympic Team’s management team and for his high quality of work in leading the NSWIS kayak program.

Michael said while he was ‘humbled’ to be named by Exercise Sports Science Australia (ESSA) as its 2024 High Performance Manager of the Year at a ceremony held in Hobart, he insisted helping people excel was enough of a reward for him.

“It’s very special to be a part of NSWIS, and working here is a privilege,” said Michael, who has a PhD in biomechanics and sports science. “It’s always my hope that we can make our athletes better people through kayaking.

“My commitment to High Performance stems from a passion for improving both the athlete and the systems that support them. I get a buzz out of working with athletes in a way that I can help them achieve something they either thought they wouldn’t be able to do or hadn’t dreamed of achieving.

“It doesn’t matter to me if it’s an athlete who is brand new to the sport or an Olympian or Paralympian because I’m excited to work with them on minute details; finding the one percenters that can help them reach their goals or, better still, exceed them.”

Michaell conceded that knowing his work with Australia’s Paralympic (Sprint Canoe) Team at last year’s Paris Games as the team manager and coach contributed to his receiving the award added to the honour.

Jake Michael, NSWIS scholarship athlete and gold medallist Lauren Parker, and NSWIS High Performance Manager Andy Burns at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games

“To be a team manager and coach at something as big as the Paralympic Games was an awesome experience,” he enthused.

“And what made it even more special was being welcomed by chef de mission Kate McLoughlin as a valued member of the team. I am deeply committed to fostering inclusivity within my professional environment. By working with the athletes, I also received a firsthand experience of the unique barriers they face daily, and it was rewarding to work with them to overcome those challenges.

“These experiences have shaped my approach – being in Paris, going through day-to-day . . . it’s the simple things . . . getting on and off buses and trains.

“When we went sightseeing in Paris, I saw how difficult it was for them. There were no ramps, no access points, nothing. It opened my eyes to the challenges . . . the big challenges . . . they face.

“The Tokyo Olympics were different because it was contained due to COVID, but we could go sightseeing in Paris and my role meant I needed to plan and manage quite a few things outside of competition.”

Michael, who represented Australia and the USA (his mother’s birthplace) in Canoe Sprint, said he realised long ago that if he was to be an authentic coach he needed to set the example for athletes who have pre-sunrise training sessions in the dead of winter.

“I admit getting up and leaving home at 4.10am and then sitting out in the freezing cold is a challenge,” he said with a laugh. “It’s so hard to keep warm out there even though I’ve got layers and layers of clothing on. In recent times we’ve also had constant rain.

“But if I’m asking the athletes to be there and to commit, then I have to as well. What I say to the athletes is this: ‘I’m committing to this journey with you, but this journey is going to be difficult, the sacrifice will be high and success is going to be – well, often – quite small, but that’s the journey we’re on. So, I tell them while it’s going to be a difficult journey, I’m committing to it and I’m committing to them. And [I say], if you’re going turn up and do it, then I’m going to turn up and be with you.”

Michael – who has high praise for Canoe Sprint’s Gen32 coach Jemma Smith – said he also draws inspiration from many of his NSWIS colleagues, including the Institute’s High Performance Coach Advisor, Bradley McGee (pictured below).

McGee, who won five Olympic medals for cycling, including a gold at Athens in 2004, is also the only Australian to have won a stage at each of cycling’s ‘holy trinity’ – the French, Italian and Spanish Tours. He’s also managed some of European cycling’s biggest teams after he retired from competition, but Michael praised him for being generous in sharing his wealth of knowledge.

“Brad is an incredible person,” said Micheal. “He’s so passionate and driven and there’s not many people out there who, if they’re working with you, want you to be better than them. But Brad does and that’s rare. It’s very special and says a lot about the man Brad is.”

Daniel Lane, NSWIS