NSW Swifts netballer Sophie Craig reveals her sacrifices for Super Netball
Leaving her job - and new husband - to play the sport she loves are just some of the sacrifices this western Sydney athlete has made during the coronavirus pandemic. But has it been worth it?
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Netballer Sophie Craig knows better than most the sacrifice required to make it in sport.
In recent times she not only delayed her honeymoon so she didn’t miss a training session but has moved hundreds of kilometres away from her husband Shawn to be with the NSW Swifts in their Queensland Super Netball bubble.
“And my babies, my two little puppies Maple and Spencer,’’ said Craig, who grew up in Fairfield and now has a house at Camden. “And my parents who are my biggest fans. They have been to every game and haven’t seen one this season. It’s broken their hearts.’’
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Craig has also taken a hit in the hip pocket to pursue her netball career, taking time off from her part time job to relocate to Queensland.
“I work for Colonial First State bank in superannuation.. My boss is incredible, so supportive,’’ the Swifts defender said.
“We only found out 24 hours before that I leave for 10 weeks. He was great.’’
But the sacrifice has been worth it with Craig going from a replacement player last year to training partner before COVID and now a regular starter in the champion NSW Swifts side.
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“I have been living one dream but leaving the other one behind in Sydney,’’ Craig said from Mooloolaba on the Sunshine Coast where the defending Super Netball champions are based.
“I have a really supportive husband who is being a single dad (to the puppies) at home.
“It’s a totally new experience for us all.
“We facetime every morning and night. I want to see the puppies I sound like a crazy dog lady.
“Sometimes I feel bad he’s left at home and it sucks. He had a holiday booked for three weeks but with the border shut he can’t come.’’
Craig said she considers herself lucky to be a Swift.
“You just never know when the bib will come so you have to embrace it,’’ she said.
“Everyone makes sacrifices to be at this level. I just got lucky I got to be where I am now.’’