‘It’s not just being an athlete’: Taliqua Clancy on the moments that inspired her path to success

The first Indigenous Australian beach volleyballer to compete at the Olympics, Taliqua Clancy says that she hopes to show the next generation what Cathy Freeman showed her in 2000.

Taliqua Clancy will strive to go one better at the Paris Olympics after clinching silver at Tokyo. Picture: Alex Coppel

There are moments in Taliqua Clancy’s life she can pinpoint that set her on the path to beach volleyball greatness.

One, which she remembers vividly, happened when she was eight and watching the Sydney Olympics with her family.

She didn’t know what beach volleyball was at the time but Cathy Freeman’s winning 400m dash would light a fire in Clancy, a proud Wulli Wulli and Goreng Goreng woman.

“Now, sitting back, it is one of those moments which really solidified the steps to wanting to become a professional athlete, wanting to become an Olympian,” she said.

“Those moments in time helped me down the path to becoming an Olympian.”

Taliqua Clancy says watching Cathy Freeman win the 400m in 2000 inspired her to become an athlete. Picture: Tom Weller/DeFodi Images via Getty Images

More than two decades on, Clancy, now 31, is showing a new generation of Indigenous kids what Cathy Freeman showed her in 2000.

“For me, I know how important representation is, especially for the younger kids who have big goals,” she said. “It’s not just being an athlete.”

A natural athlete, she first came across beach volleyball in high school and quickly rose to the top of the sport.

At Rio in 2016, she became the first Indigenous Australian beach volleyballer to represent her country at an Olympic Games.

Since then, she’s gone from strength to strength.

Clancy and Mariafe Artacho del Solar, her playing partner since 2017, clinched the silver medal at the Tokyo Games and will this year be looking to go one better.

While they have a laser-like focus on being the world’s best, Clancy’s years on the world stage have always been about more than just results.

The first Indigenous beach volleyball Olympian, Taliqua Clancy works with Deadly Choices to give back to the next generation. Picture SARAH REED

She is an ambassador for Deadly Choices, an organisation that empowers Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to make health choices for themselves and their families.

“I love being a part of that,” she said. “With all the education that I have, I want to be able to give back to the community and I feel like that’s the best way to do it.

“I think it’s just so important to promote healthy lifestyles and going out and getting their health checks.”

The role has taken Clancy, who comes from Kingaroy in regional Queensland, to communities in far-flung parts of the nation to speak about the importance of good health practices.

She said she gained as much as she gave through the work.

“I love being able to spend time, especially with the younger kids,” Clancy said.

“And hanging around the elders as well is really special, just to listen to their stories.

“It feels like a bonus for me. I can help and then also it just fills my cup as well.”

Originally published as ‘It’s not just being an athlete’: Taliqua Clancy on the moments that inspired her path to success