The female sports stars who gave inspiration to our current day women in sport champions
To celebrate International Women’s Day, we asked 13 of Queensland’s female sporting champions who inspired them to become the legends they are today. SEE THE LIST HERE.
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From the sporting world, how better way to celebrate International Women’s Day than for 13 of Queensland’s inspiring sportswomen to reveal just who inspires them.
This idea started out as another list-thingy or nominating the best Queensland performers in women’s sport over the past 12 months.
Instead of putting a male and pale spin on it, we contacted a cluster of high-performers who generously put in their own words what it was like to have strong female role models and what it is like now to see so many more women with extra profile for their achievements on the domestic and international stage.
On the media coverage front, we found an old, yellowing edition of The Sunday Mail.
Across 20 pages of sport, there were only three small stories on sportswomen and three questions on women in a sporting crossword.
There were 90 words on cycling golden girl Anna Meares breaking a 500m time trial world record in Mexico, an ironwoman race preview and news that a female foreman had switched camps in horseracing.
There was more space allocated to female horses in a Doomben upset involving Missy Longstocking.
It wasn’t 1973. It was 2013.
There is still work to do, but the landscape has changed and is changing further.
Here is what our 13 high-achievers had to say.
CATE CAMPBELL
(Swimming’s two-time Olympic relay gold medallist)
“When I was in Grade 10 I had to write a school essay about someone who inspired me and I chose Leisel Jones who had been very outspoken about the issues she faced in her career. “Leisel was only 15 when she won a silver medal at the Sydney Olympics and in the years after that she had had to overcome mental challenges dealing with that early success and the feeling that she hadn’t lived up to other people’s expectations.
“In my memory she was the first female athlete to articulate those sort of things and as a young swimmer myself it struck a chord. That was in 2007 and the next year I made the team for the Beijing Olympics and Leisel was my teammate which was pretty surreal.”
Who do you regard as the leading and most inspiring Queensland sportswomen today?
“Queensland’s top female athlete at the moment has to be Ashleigh Barty but the one who I think is the rising star is (18-year-old middle distance swimmer) Ariarne Titmus. The thing I love about her, apart from her achievements in the pool, is her passion and love for the sport. “She is still so young but she’s got a good head on her shoulders and she just loves to race and train. I think she’s great.”
GABI SIMPSON
(Netball’s Queensland Firebirds captain and Australian Diamonds vice-captain)
“Julie Corletto and Mo’onia Gerrard (former Australian Diamonds defenders) were the two female athletes that inspired me because of how athletic they were and how uncompromising they were in the way they played.
“They had a lot of mongrel to their game but had kind hearts off the court.”
Who do you regard as the leading and most inspiring Queensland sportswomen today?
“The Campbell sisters, Cate and Bronte, because of what they have achieved in and out of the pool. They are good humans too.”
ALI BRIGGINSHAW
(Brisbane Broncos captain in NRLW)
“Karyn Murphy was my inspiration as a rugby league player and I was lucky enough to play alongside her in the halves.
“She not only inspired me on the field but also off the field in everyday life. She continues to do women proud in the rugby league world in her job today.”
Who do you regard as the leading and most inspiring Queensland sportswomen today?
“Ash Barty. She is always proud about representing her state and Ipswich and she is very good at multiple sports.”
CLARE POLKINGHORNE
(Football’s Matildas stalwart and Brisbane Roar captain)
“My main footballing inspiration growing up was Di Alagich.
“It was awesome to be out there alongside Di and it’s something I’m very proud of. It’s not often you get to share the field with someone who has inspired you.
“Di was as tough as defenders come, had a strong work ethic and passion for the game.
“She was the ultimate teammate and she was one player I wanted to emulate with my game.”
Who do you regard as the leading and most inspiring Queensland sportswomen today?
“Ash Barty because she’s taken her game to another level and re-ignited the public’s love of women’s tennis in Australia.”
ASH BARTY
(US Open doubles champion and world No.12 after a superb 12 months)
“Evonne Goolagong Cawley has inspired me on and off the tennis court since I was a young girl.
“Evonne’s outstanding sporting achievements and her passion for helping the indigenous community are two things I admire her for. I feel grateful for our friendship.
(Goolagong Cawley added that Barty once apologised for not taking her phone call.
“Ash said she couldn’t talk. She texted me a picture of these three fish on the ground,’’ Goologong Cawley said with a laugh.
“I texted back: “That’s OK. I understand.
“I’m like a friend. We don’t talk about tennis all the time or much at all - we talk about fishing a lot which we both love to do.”)
Who do you regard as the leading and most inspiring Queensland sportswomen today?
“Stephanie Gilmore...from NSW but surfs Queensland waves. An incredible athlete and an even better person.”
EMILEE CHERRY
(Olympic gold medallist in Rugby Sevens)
“The female figure who inspired me most was my mum (Laurene) and even more so now,” said the pregnant Cherry.
“Everything see did for me is why I’m where I am today, starting with those countless drives from Roma to Brisbane and across the state for all sorts of sports.
“Early on, we worked out to keep sport and life separate so as soon as I got in the car after sport there was no talk about what happened on the field.
“Peta Rogerson and Louise Winchester were the two who inspired me when I was coming up through the touch ranks.”
Who do you regard as the leading and most inspiring Queensland sportswomen today?
“I have a very biased opinion so it’s going to be from rugby. Charlotte Caslick is my choice because she’s dominated in a sport from such a young age with a rare athleticism.
“The way she conducts herself off the field makes her a terrific role model for women’s sport.”
SAMMY-JO JOHNSON
(Brisbane Heat fast bowler)
“As a cricketer growing up, I always wanted to be a fast bowler so Brett Lee was my idol. I didn’t know too many of the female cricketers at the time so Brett Lee was definitely an idol for me. Right now, I take inspiration from Delissa Kimmince, Jess Jonassen and Beth Mooney, who are all teammates,” she said.
Who do you regard as the leading and most inspiring Queensland sportswomen today?
“I have to say Kimmince, Jonassen and Mooney. They’re all current Australia players and it’s fantastic to see their work ethic and how hard they train to earn their rewards,” she said.
“They’ve won a World Cup so they’re really good people to look up to.”
BERNADETTE COOPER
(SKY Racing network presenter who was the first female to win Queensland’s coveted Champion Apprentice Jockey title)
“I was inspired as a young girl by (trailblazing female jockey) Pam O’Neill. I’d already decided to be a jockey when I saw her ride live for the first time. We went to the Coast to watch my father’s horse Hogan’s Hope, but even though he won the race, I was more fascinated by Pam running second.
“I had wanted to be a jockey for a year, but was too young to contemplate the gender aspect. She was the first female jockey I saw and it was that day that cemented my desire to become a jockey. I was so chuffed afterwards because I thought ‘wow, there’s a lady doing it.’”
Who do you regard as the leading and most inspiring Queensland sportswomen today?
“Of today’s sporting stars I have huge admiration for Ash Barty.
“She’s so humble. So Queenslander-ish. No airs and graces, she’s a workhorse, she’s ambitious and she’s tiny too!
“I like the fact she has to delve deeper to outwit and outplay her opposition. I really hope we get to see her win a Grand Slam one day.”
SABRINA FREDERICK-TRAUB
(Brisbane Lions in AFLW)
“As I am sure most people would say, Serena Williams was the biggest female role model for me growing up and still is to this day. Being a woman of colour competing in a male dominated sport I can relate.
“The way she carries herself on and off the tennis court and the people she inspires I want to do something similar.
“What she has achieved in her lifetime at the age of 37, having her beautiful daughter, and then returning to compete the way she has to me is incredible.”
Who do you regard as the leading and most inspiring Queensland sportswomen today?
“To me the first name that comes to mind is Laura Geitz. I know Laura has recently retired but the impact she has had on women’s sport not just in Queensland but in general has been enormous.
“As a friend and a fan of hers the way she has carried herself throughout her career and the way she can still make an impact on the female sporting community now is still so powerful.
And to be honest, if she chose to stay on the court she would still be killing it.”
MEG WARD
(Brisbane Broncos premiership-winning back in the NRLW)
“(Former Australian soccer defender) Pam Grant played with the Matildas and she coached me.
“Being under her guidance taught me all about discipline.
“She taught me the results you get from hard work. She trained hard herself. One thing she told me was that when I went on a long distance jog to sprint up a hill.
“So I always did that. I don’t even know why that stuck with me but it did.”
Who do you regard as the leading and most inspiring Queensland sportswomen today?
“CrossFit Games champion Tia-Clair Toomey is Australia’s supreme female athlete.
“She is amazing. She went to the Olympics for weightlifting and did Crossfit as well.
“Some of the things they do are unbelievable. I have followed Ash Barty as well and really admire the way she carries herself.’’
GEORGIA MILLER
(Coolangatta Gold and World Ironwoman champion)
“I really looked up to Stephanie Rice when I was growing up. As a kid all I wanted to do was go to the Olympics for pool swimming and seeing her win so many races and break world records really inspired me.
“The way she went about her training and racing was incredible, she was so tough and she never gave up. She was also so calculated about her races and her technique was on point.
“I loved that she also did both team and individual events as I have always loved to do the same.”
Who do you regard as the leading and most inspiring Queensland sportswomen today?
“There are so many incredible athletes in Queensland but I believe Sally Pearson is one like no other.
“Suffering from so many injuries that have set her back but she still manages to get back up and chase her dreams. I believe that quality is so important in an athlete as we
are all facing hurdles and she literally faces hurdles every single day.”
“SHOTGUN” SHANNON O’CONNELL
(Boxing’s former world champion)
“Growing up my favourite female sports star was Cathy Freeman. When she won the 400m gold medal in Sydney the whole country stopped to cheer.
“I was a big fan of Muhammad Ali’s boxing daughter Laila Ali, too, but Cathy was so inspiring because of the way she overcame every obstacle put in her way. It encouraged me to always strive to be the best.”
Who do you regard as the leading and most inspiring Queensland sportswomen today?
At the moment Ash Barty is doing great things but my favourite Queensland sports star would have to be Ali Brigginshaw, who is an Australian Golden Gloves boxing champion and captain of the Broncos women’s team.
“I’ve seen her box and she is very talented.”
LEAH KASLAR
(Brisbane Lions in AFLW)
“I think it’s hard to go past Serena Williams. She’s such a wonderful, powerful and inspiring figure and she’s probably the benchmark for female athletes. I just love seeing her in action.”
Who do you regard as the leading and most inspiring Queensland sportswomen today?
“For me, Holly Ferling is one of the best Queensland athletes right now. She’s not really an up-and-comer anymore. She’s at the peak of her game. I think she’s a terrific athlete.”
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