Olympian Alyce Wood tours regional schools across Central Qld

Two time Olympian Alyce Wood shares an insight into what inspired her growing up, and what’s next for her after returning from Tokyo.

The memory of an Olympian visiting her school is one that stuck with Alyce Wood all her life.

Now an Olympian herself, the 29-year-old star Australian kayaker went full circle by visiting schools to herself inspire young students.

Students across the region were star struck this week when the two time Olympian entered the classrooms to inspire and encourage young people to follow their dreams.

After recently returning home to Queensland following the Tokyo Olympics, Wood headed to Central Queensland where she visited schools and sporting groups from Monday to Wednesday as part of Olympics Unleashed presented by Optus program.

It was an opportunity for students across Australia to connect with athletes, helping young people find their passion and build resilience, learning first-hand from Olympians and athletes.

Alyssa Bull and Alyce Wood of Team Australia during Women's Kayak Double 500m Heat 4 on day ten of the Tokyo 2021 Olympic Games. Photo: Adam Pretty/Getty Images

Wood said she wanted to inspire students and young athletes to approach challenges and opportunities with a confident attitude and ‘yes’ mindset.

“It was really fun to share my story with them,” she said.

“You have a joke and a laugh and they loved hearing everything I had to say.

“I think sometimes I have more fun than the kids.”

Seven schools were visited across the region including Comet State School, Springsure State School, Denison State School, Emerald Christian College, Emerald North State School, Tieri State School and Middlemount Community School, as well as the Emerald PCYC and Central Highlands Rugby Union Club.

“I went to Comet and they were stoked to have me, and students in Tieri did all the research on me, they knew all the answers to the questions before I even said anything,” Wood laughed.

“I remember we had an Olympian come to my school back in my day and I remember her sharing her story and it was the coolest thing ever.

“I’m aware of the impact we can make and I hope I can leave something with them.”

Alyce Wood shared her Olympic story with students across the region.

Wood is a two-time Olympian having competed in sprint kayaking at Rio in 2016 and recently at Tokyo.

She was a favourite leading into Australia‘s Tokyo 2020 selection trials with paddle partner Aly Bull, having dominated both nomination events winning the K2 500 Australian and Oceania Championships.

The pair were ranked second ahead of the final but finished in fifth place just 1.6 seconds behind New Zealand.

Wood said it was such a “special” Olympics, with the Australian team banding together as a family in support of each other.

“The camaraderie in the Village was incredible,” she said.

“It didn’t matter the support, if you were successful, your name, everyone was just really getting around each other and supporting each other.

“The whole team was just one big family cheering each other on.”

World champion Olympic kayakers Jordan and Alyce Wood.

Recently turning 29, Wood said she and husband Jordan were “really keen” to start a family, and balance motherhood with a continuing career, following in the footsteps of her mother-in-law who won an Olympic medal two years after giving birth.

“I’m not ready to finish paddling yet,” she said.

“I’d love to people along on that journey of balancing a career and motherhood, because in Australia it’s not spoken about too often, especially in sport.

“But being exposed to it internationally makes me know it’s possible [to do both].

“I’m really keen to be in Paris in 2024, hopefully for my third Olympics.”