What is a LAA Ambassador?
Little Athletics Australia (LAA) ambassadors are inspirational role models and advocates for the organization’s mission. They’ve been through the Little Athletics pathway and are now accomplished athletes themselves, playing a crucial role in promoting the values of sportsmanship, fitness and community involvement that Little Athletics fosters among young Australians.
LAA Ambassadors engage in outreach programs, visit local Centres or events, and share their personal stories of perseverance and success to motivate and encourage the next generation of athletes. They embody the spirit of dedication and excellence that Little Athletics aims to instil in its participants, helping them realize their full potential and develop life skills beyond the track or field.
What can I expect from an LAA Ambassador visit?
You will need to work closely with the LAA ambassador to prepare for their visit. Before their visit, you should inform them what activities you’d expect during their visit.
Activities in their visit can include:
Cam McEntyre began his athletics journey at just four years old at Ku-Ring-Gai Little Athletics NSW, following in the footsteps of his brothers. Now 27, he has become one of Australia’s leading javelin throwers.
Coached by his older brother Angus, Cam won the 2022 National title and broke into the Australian all-time top 10.
He has represented Australia on six national teams, including the 2018 World U20 Championships, 2022 Commonwealth Games, 2022 and 2023 World Championships, the 2024 Olympic Games, and the 2025 World Championships.
Cam’s 2024 season was his best yet — winning Nationals, setting a personal best of 82.01m in Japan, and achieving the longest Olympic throw by an Australian since 2008 with 81.18m in Paris. In 2025, he lifted his PB to 82.35m in Luzern, maintaining his spot as #10 on the national all-time list.
Ella Connolly is an Australian sprinter specialising in the 100m, 200m, 400m and relays. A dual Olympian, she represented Australia at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, where she fulfilled a dream of competing in front of her family.
Ella has also won bronze medals in the 4x100m relay at the 2022 Commonwealth Games and the 4x400m relay at the 2025 World Indoor Championships, cementing her place among Australia’s top sprinters.
Ella began her athletics journey at Deception Bay Little Athletics Centre at age 11, inspired by her first coach, Gary Patterson, and the supportive community around her. Now coached by Andrew Iselin in Queensland, she credits her Little Athletics experience for building lifelong friendships and igniting her passion for the sport. Ella encourages young athletes to “Have fun, try your best, and thank Mum and Dad!”
Emelia Surch competed for Australia in 2022 at the World Under 20 Championships, where she placed 4th in Long Jump and competed in the 100m Hurdles. She is also the current Under 20 Oceania meet record holder for Long Jump and 100m Hurdles.
Emelia started her athletics journey as a tiny 6 year old at Ashmore Little Athletics on the Gold Coast, and went all the way through to Under 17’s. “Little Athletics has inspired me from a very young age that sport is not all about winning, but enjoying yourself and what you do, ultimately allowing yourself to fall in love with the sport, without pressure”. She was given the opportunity to compete in all athletics events and naturally developed into a heptathlete.
Emelia competed at the Australian Little Athletics Championships in 2018 to represent Queensland in the Heptathlon, where she finished (placing). She was then invited to the Under 15 Little Athletics Australia National camp, where she gained so much knowledge about recovery and nutrition that made her decide that she wanted to focus on athletics. Emelia’s athletics journey is an inspiration to many young athletes after facing many challenges with injuries and illnesses, and having to stay motivated to train and keep believing in yourself. She shares a special message to any athlete, “sport is tough, but you are tougher! Be patient, persistent and determined”.
“She was fantastic, and the athletes really enjoyed having her there. It's fantastic to have the support of Little Athletics Australia in these programs.”
Kainen Heath
Sport & Club Development Coordinator, Little Athletics South Australia
South Australia Little Athletics Holiday Clinic
Ben Guse began his athletics journey at age 7 with Wynnum Manly Little Athletics Club on Brisbane’s north-side and progressed through Little Athletics up to U17s, cherishing the fun of competing against friends and chasing personal bests.
Now a dedicated decathlete – competing across ten events over two days (Day 1: 100 m, long jump, shot put, high jump, 400 m; Day 2: 110 m hurdles, discus, pole vault, javelin, 1500 m) – Ben trains at Queensland Sport & Athletics Centre in Brisbane under coaches Annette Rice and Howard Arbuthnot.
The highlight of his career so far was winning gold at the 2025 FISU World University Games decathlon with a personal best score of 7,918 points, including nine out of ten individual personal bests. He attributes his success to a mindset he learned in his Little Athletics days: “the most important thing I have learned in athletics is to love and enjoy what you do – that is when you will get the most out of it.
Jordi McMillan is an Australian 100m and 200m sprinter, who recently represented Australia for the first time in the U20 European Tour team in June 2023.
She has had a tremendous season placing 4th in the U20 100m at the Australian Championships, smashing five personal bests in a row and achieved the World Juniors qualifying standard.
Jordi started her athletics journey at the age of 6 years at Henley Districts Little Athletics in South Australia. She developed a love for this sport as she did not enjoy any team sports so Little Athletics gave her the opportunity to compete and make great friends in an individual sport. “Little Athletics played a big part in shaping who I am today by teaching me to celebrate the little wins, make new friends, be competitive and most importantly, have fun!”
She also competed at the Australian Little Athletics Championships in (year) representing South Australia in the (list events). Jordi now coaches a group of young athletes to inspire them to achieve their goals in athletics and show them the characteristics of resilience, motivation, dedication and patience that athletics has taught her.
“One thing I always loved about Little Athletics is that you get to try every event and give it a go, and ultimately, that was one of the most fun things about it. There was no pressure to do well. It was just about trying your best. It gives kids the opportunity to be able to try all the events and helps them learn what they love best and pursue it and for me, that was sprinting”.
Jackson Mellor is a rising star in Australian throwing having represented his country in the Discus at the 2022 Pacific Mini Games and the 2023 Oceania Cup, where he managed to secure silver medals in both competitions.
Jackson started competing in athletics when he was 5 years old at East Derwent Little Athletics, northern suburbs of Hobart. He joined his local Little Athletics Centre with the purpose to make friends, have fun and be his best. “I followed the traditional path through Little Athletics, doing every event under the sun with my friends. I think I just stuck with it because I enjoyed it and was kind of alright as a kid”.
As a kid, he was worried about attending his first Little Athletics state competitions and whether he would make any friends from other clubs but instead he made lifelong friends through Little Athletics. Throughout his athletics journey, he has been to some amazing places in the world with incredible people and made lots of memories that will last a lifetime.
“Little Athletics taught me resilience, confidence, sportsmanship and to never give up on anything you set your mind to. I’ve learnt many life lessons from Little Athletics. Without it I wouldn’t be the athlete and more importantly, the person I am today”.
“Jackson was great today… He was very personable and related well with the kids. From what I was observing he loved the experience too”
Zane Patmore
Development & Competition Officer, Little Athletics Tasmania
2023 Coles Community Round- Launceston Little Athletics Centre
Aiden Hinson is an Australian triple jump specialist who has represented Australia internationally, including at the FISU World University Games and the Oceania Championships, where he claimed the 2024 Oceania title.
A rising star of Australian athletics, Aiden sits 10th on the Australian all-time list with a personal best of 16.72 metres and continues to chase his dream of qualifying for the World Athletics Championships.
Aiden began his Little Athletics journey at Westernport Little Athletics Centre when he was just six years old, fuelled by a love for sport and friendly competition with his mates. Coached by Chloe Stevens at Ballam Park Athletics Track and Cory Ines at the Victorian Institute of Sport, Aiden balances his training with his career as a strength and conditioning coach. His advice to Little Athletes is simple: “Have fun, don’t overthink anything, and enjoy the memories.”
Jordi McMillan is an Australian 100m and 200m sprinter, who recently represented Australia for the first time in the U20 European Tour team in June 2023.
She has had a tremendous season placing 4th in the U20 100m at the Australian Championships, smashing five personal bests in a row and achieved the World Juniors qualifying standard.
Jordi started her athletics journey at the age of 6 years at Henley Districts Little Athletics in South Australia. She developed a love for this sport as she did not enjoy any team sports so Little Athletics gave her the opportunity to compete and make great friends in an individual sport. “Little Athletics played a big part in shaping who I am today by teaching me to celebrate the little wins, make new friends, be competitive and most importantly, have fun!”
She also competed at the Australian Little Athletics Championships in (year) representing South Australia in the (list events). Jordi now coaches a group of young athletes to inspire them to achieve their goals in athletics and show them the characteristics of resilience, motivation, dedication and patience that athletics has taught her.
“One thing I always loved about Little Athletics is that you get to try every event and give it a go, and ultimately, that was one of the most fun things about it. There was no pressure to do well. It was just about trying your best. It gives kids the opportunity to be able to try all the events and helps them learn what they love best and pursue it and for me, that was sprinting”.
Nana Owusu-Afriyie is a Australian track and field athlete in the 100m, 200m, and 4x100m. She has participated in various international events including World Athletics Championships, World U20 Championships, Oceania Championships, Commonwealth Youth Games and more.
Nana began her Little Athletes journey at Waverley Little Athletics, Central Reserve when she was 11 years old, and since then, she has continued her running career without pause. She realized at a young age that she was destined to be a sprinter, and athletics became her passion, allowing her to enjoy the summers with her loved ones under the sun and run fast.
In 2013, Nana also had the opportunity to compete at the Australian Little Athletics Championships in Tasmania, representing Victoria. There, she secured the second position in the 100m, and clinched the first position in both the 200m and the 4x100m.
Throughout her Little Athletics journey what she remembers the most is the outstanding individuals she met. Many of whom remain her closest friends to this day. Her involvement in track and field has instilled resilience in her, helping her navigate through challenges such as injuries, academic pressures, and the balancing act between work and training. Embracing both triumphs and setbacks has reinforced her passion for the sport, serving as a constant reminder of why perseverance is key.
“I’m excited to be a Coles Little Athletics Australia Ambassador. I’m grateful for all that athletics has brought me, and it brings me joy to contribute to the sport that has given me so much, both on and off the track.”
“She was the perfect ambassador for the sport. She gave a wonderful and engaging speech at the start of our competition between 4 clubs (the North East Challenge) and tied it into her talk, the importance of friendships that you can make at these sorts of events and how she has met some life-long friends from similar competitions in Little Athletics. She approached kids to talk to them about their events and was very engaging and encouraging. It really was fantastic, and I had many parents come up and say how great it was to have her there.”
Amy Giannakis
President Campbelltown LAC SA
2023 Coles Community Round - Campbelltown LAC SA
Bec Henderson is an Australian racewalker specializing in the 20km and 35km events. She has represented Australia at two Olympic Games and multiple World Championships, including placing 9th at the most recent World Championships in Tokyo.
Bec holds the Australian all-time top 3 for the 20km walk and the national record in the 35km walk, and has achieved multiple personal bests across national and international competitions.
Bec’s athletics journey began at Berwick/Casey Little Athletics Centre VIC when she was just five, inspired by her cousins and the fun of Saturday mornings. She trains under Simon Baker around Albert Park, St Kilda, and Knox, and credits her success to a combination of hard work, passion, and the support of coaches, family, and training partners.
Bec encourages young athletes to “give every event a go, even if it’s not your best one, and have fun!”
Richard Colman AM, World and Paralympic wheelchair racing champion, took love for athletics from a young age and has become a huge advocate for the sport.
Richard is the current Australian and Oceania Record holder in the T53 200m, 400m, 800m. He has reached the pinnacle of his sport winning 2 x Paralympic gold medals (T53 800m, Athens 2004 and T53 800m), 2 x Paralympic silver medals (T53-54 4x100m relay, Athens 2004 and T53 400m, Beijing 2008), and 3 x Paralympic bronze medals (T53 400m, Beijing 2008; T53 400m, 4x400m, London 2012).
Richard has been World Champion in the T53 800m as well as won countless World Championship medals and Commonwealth Games medals. He was also been awarded the Order of Australian medal in 2005 and the Member of the Oder of Australia 2013.
He was born with Spina Bifida and took to sport at a young age where he was involved in many sports, before the love of athletics took his full attention. Richard reached his pinnacle in his sport, competing, travelling and training with the world’s best wheelchair athletes. Now, he wants to impart his hard learnt knowledge to help the next generation of athletes achieve their goals.
(What you love about Little Athletics) “I will continue to try and prove to young athletes that anything is possible if you have a go and to always dream big”.
“The kids had lots of questions for Richard, and were excited he joined in as our running starter, and coach around other events in our program.”
Shell Corcoran
2023 Coles Community Round - Buninyong LAC VIC
