Future Brisbane: How 2032 can be a great experience for athletes

Australian Olympian Jessica Lockwood, who now works for Brisbane-based TechnologyOne, says there are three things athletes need for a memorable Games experience.

It takes three things to put on the best possible Games for athletes, according to Olympic rower Jessica Lockwood.

The 32-year-old says comfortable accommodation, world class facilities and ease of commute to venues is critical.

“Once you get there, as an athlete, you want it to feel like it’s your home away from home,” she said.

Lockwood (nee Hall) represented Australia in rowing from 2009 to 2017 and competed in the Rio Olympics in 2016.

Although she has now retired from rowing and found a fulfilling new career working as a senior manager for Brisbane-based TechnologyOne, Lockwood can still be found gliding across the Brisbane River on occasion and mentoring young aspiring athletes.

Olympian Jess Lockwood (nee Hall) who now works at TechnologyOne in Fortitude Valley. Picture: Nigel Hallett

While she will always remember it as the experience of a lifetime, she also recalls the challenges.

“When Australia arrived, the athletes village wasn’t fully prepared, so many of the athletes had to stay in temporary accommodation initially,” she said.

Luckily for Lockwood, the rowing team wasn’t effected as they were staying in a separate hotel close to the rowing course at Copacabana Beach.

“Being close to your competition venue is crucial. You don’t want to be stressed about travel times or unexpected delays. When you’re focused on performing at your best, removing those variables makes all the difference,” she said.

Although she missed out on sleeping on the famous cardboard bed frames used at the Tokyo and Paris Olympics, Lockwood said as long as the athletes can get a good night’s sleep, that’s all that matters.

“An athlete’s recovery between events and training sessions is essential, so details like comfortable bedding and reliable air-conditioning are really important,” she said.

Jessica Hall (back left) competing in Rio for Australia, with Kerry Hore, Jennifer Cleary and Madeleine Edmunds. (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images)

Lockwood said Brisbane’s official Olympic venue for the rowing and kayak events – the Queensland State Rowing Centre at Wyaralong Dam about 100km south of Brisbane – is state-of-the-art and one international athletes will love.

“It’s a fantastic course with plenty of space for spectators, family and friends to come and show their support. Having that support as an athlete is incredibly motivating and makes a huge difference,” she said.

Lockwood has worked at TechnologyOne for four years as the senior manager of business partnering for the sales and marketing team.

“One of our values is ‘making the impossible possible’ and that’s something I really like.

“They’re bold, they’re gritty and that’s one of my favourite things about the company. It’s just a great place to be culturally and a fantastic Brisbane success story,” she said.