More than 1,300 young people across the Pilbara will have the chance to run, jump and throw alongside some of Australia’s leading athletes at the Rio Tinto Pilbara Festival of Athletics from 19-21 October.
Olympic, Paralympic, Commonwealth Games and national-level athletes will travel across Karratha, Pannawonica, Tom Price and Paraburdoo for three days of athletics clinics, school visits and community activities as part of a partnership between Australian Athletics and Rio Tinto.
The athlete line-up includes Jessica Hull, Lachlan Kennedy, Matthew Denny, Michelle Jenneke, Vanessa Low, Abbey Caldwell, Rhiannon Clarke, Lianna Davidson, Aidan Murphy and Yual Reath, bringing some of the biggest names in Australian athletics directly to Pilbara communities.
More than 1,300 students from 14 schools across Karratha, Dampier, Wickham, Pannawonica, Tom Price and Paraburdoo are expected to take part, giving young people the opportunity to experience athletics first-hand and learn from athletes competing at the highest level.
Olympic medalist Jessica Hull said she was looking forward to meeting young people across the Pilbara and sharing some of the excitement surrounding Australian athletics.
“Growing up, I looked up to athletes who made me believe that big goals were possible, so being able to visit the Pilbara and spend time with young people here is really special.
“Australian athletics is in such an exciting place and hopefully we can bring some of that energy to the Festival. If a young person walks away wanting to try athletics, stay active or simply believing a little more in what they can achieve, that’s a pretty great outcome.”
Australian Athletics Chief Executive Officer Simon Hollingsworth said the Festival demonstrated the ability of athletics to connect and inspire communities across Australia.
“Athletics is a sport for everyone. At its heart, it’s about running, jumping and throwing – all things young people can experience and enjoy no matter where they grow up.
“The Rio Tinto Pilbara Festival of Athletics lets leading athletes step beyond the stadium and spend time with young people in their own community.
“Our partnership with Rio Tinto is helping us take athletics further into regional and remote Australia, which is incredibly important. We want young people to see that there is a place for them in our sport and that their postcode should never define what they can achieve.”
Rio Tinto’s Cape Lambert Ports General Manager Briony Briskey said the Festival was about bringing opportunities and inspiration to young people in the Pilbara.
“Rio Tinto has been part of Western Australia for 60 years. We’re incredibly proud to work with Australian Athletics to create this unique sporting event for young people in the communities where we live and work.
“It’s an incredible opportunity for a young person to run alongside an Olympian or Paralympian, learn from them and hear about their journey. Over these three days, more than 1,300 kids will do just that – and right here in the Pilbara.
“This is one of the ways that we’re making sport more accessible and giving young people the confidence to get involved, have a go and see where it might take them.”
The Festival builds on the success of Rio Tinto Athletics for the Outback, one of Australia’s largest regional grassroots sports participation programs and a cornerstone of the broader Rio Tinto and Australian Athletics partnership.
Since 2022, Athletics for the Outback has engaged more than 29,000 participants across 65 regional and remote communities, creating opportunities for young people to participate in athletics, develop their skills and build a lifelong connection with sport.
The Rio Tinto Pilbara Festival of Athletics runs from 19-21 October 2026.
Australian Athletics
Posted 19/10/2026
