The Mentor Advantage by Riley Day

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The Sport Australia Hall of Fame Scholarship and Mentoring Program has given me insight into the life of an Olympian and an elite athlete. Debbie Watson, my mentor and I have been communicating regularly over Facebook as she lives interstate. She has shared her experiences at the Sydney Olympic Games and the effort and dedication it requires to be a full time athlete and an Olympic Games gold medallist. 

I feel very grateful to be constantly given handy and helpful advice from Debbie and I am using all relevant advice and incorporating it into my own athletics career. It has motivated me to train harder in order to achieve the goals I have set for myself in 2018. I am going to continue to train in Beaudesert on a grass track but I am slowly transitioning onto tartan by training in Brisbane once a week. I am also going to continue to race in Queensland but also travel interstate for competitions. 

When I was announced as one of the five scholarship recipients, I was extremely honoured and thankful; knowing I was chosen from thousands of very well deserving athletes. As I met the other scholarship recipients, I learnt how they trained and the sacrifices they had to make in order to succeed in their sports. It was definitely an eye-opening conversation for all of us. I’m excited to continue on the Australian Hall of Fame Scholarship and Mentoring Program with my mentor Debbie Watson, and develop myself as a person and an athlete.

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