Balancing early morning training with the rigorous demands of medical school, dual Olympic medallist Jemima Montag is carving out every moment meticulously. This Saturday she is bound for the World Athletics Race Walking Tour Gold meet in Taicang, China – her sole chance at competition before racing for global gold this September.
In the early hours of the morning while Melbourne still sleeps, Montag’s routine unfolds with a quiet determination. A training walk to university with her mother keeping pace on bike, or a run home after leaving her belongings in the hospital locker room – her daily commute is a calculated step in achieving her two ambitious goals.
Fresh off the brilliance of her two Olympic bronze medals and her fifth fastest ever performance at the Australian 20km Race Walking Championships last fortnight, the 27-year-old has more than proven her dedication to both pursuits. She says she’s still got more to give to her sport, holding back just enough to ensure she’s in prime condition to climb the podium once again.
But with her only opportunity to lock horns with the world’s best before settling into rigorous training before the World Athletics Championships, stakes for her race in Taicang are high:
“China is super important because of my university year. It’s going to be the only Gold label meet that I do before Japan, and from then on, I’ll pretty much be either studying, on training camps or at home,” Montag said.
“We’ve got our reigning Olympic champion and world record holder from China [Yang Jiayu] who is hopefully in the race. China is just a powerhouse for walks, and it’s generally perfect conditions there, so it will be a massive and fast pack, and a good opportunity to just go fast from the gun and dig deep.”
While most athletes aren’t juggling two full time loads, Montag’s life is an intricate balancing act, with every moment orchestrated with the same care and discipline that defines her status on the roads.
Her routine, though gruelling, is methodically planned. Whether it’s ramping up her fuel intake with her dietetics team or working with her coach Brent Vallance to manage her training load with the demands of being on her feet in hospital – every element of her regimen is fine-tuned.
“Having to get people to start at the crack of dawn or meet a little later – it’s a puzzle but so far, it’s working. As for my step count nowadays, I actually take my Garmin off when I’m not training – that’s how I mentally switch off,” she says.
Far from being a distraction to her racewalking pursuits, Montag believes her medical studies provide her with a unique on both life and athletics.
“Throughout the day, I speak to all different kinds of patients. Last week, I got to the track for a hard, hot rep session, and normally I’d feel sorry for myself in that moment. Instead, I thought – how lucky am I to be able to do this? It’s those conversations throughout the day that keep me grounded.”
Despite feeling satisfied after the Paris Olympics, Montag says the blend of calm that comes after achieving such goals and her constant drive to win is what is defining her ahead of Taicang.
“Maybe because it’s my one opportunity. I still have that competitive fire, and I know I can be faster than I am at the moment, but I feel a sense of peace off the back of those Olympic medals,” Montag said.
“It’s that want-versus-need thing I talked about at the Olympic finish line. I want to win in China and in Tokyo, but I’ve got that really nice memory from Paris to hold onto that no one can take away.”
By Sascha Ryner, Australian Athletics
Posted: 26/2/2025
