In Principio August 2017

As part of the Elite Athlete Friendly University (EAFU) network, Notre Dame is currently assisting more than 65 elite athletes across the country and, when it comes to sporting prowess, our elite athletes are really ‘punching above their weight’. Over the past 12 months, they have achieved outstanding results in the sporting world – including six highlighted here – while studying for their professional careers at Notre Dame Campuses in Fremantle and Sydney. NINA KENNEDY BACHELOR OF BEHAVIOURAL SCIENCE FREMANTLE CAMPUS Pole vaulter, NinaKennedy, continues to raise the bar – literally – in her quest for a medal at the 2017 World Athletics Championships in London in August. First thrust into the international spotlight in 2015 when, as a 17-year-old, she became the World Junior Outdoor Record holder with a clearance of 4.59 metres, Nina has gone from strength to strength, most recently winning a gold medal at the Nitro Athletics in Perth in February as a member of sprint legend Usain Bolt’s ‘Bolt All-Stars’ Team. And, with this current best of 4.59m, she has already qualified for the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast. “While pole vault can be a challenging sport, I am privileged to be surrounded by such supportive coaches, family and friends, who give me the encouragement and confidence to succeed,” Nina said. HANNAH DYBALL BACHELOR OF PRIMARY EDUCATION SYDNEY CAMPUS After nervously following her brother onto the rugby pitch for the first time at the age of six, Hannah Dyball began a lifelong fascination for the game and one of Australia’s best women’s touch football players. Hannah recently returned from the 2017 Open’s Trans-Tasman Series at the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, where the Australian women’s team won all three games to take top spot in the prestigious international tournament. Hannah first represented Australia in 2013 at an international series in New Zealand and one of her personal career highlights was winning the 2015 Touch Football World Cup final – also against New Zealand, in Coffs Harbour, NSW. She now hopes that the Australian team can reprise these successes at the 2019 Touch Football World Cup in Malaysia. “I’m grateful to Notre Dame for allowing me to achieve sporting success, while balancing studies in education so that I can realise my career goal of becoming a primary school teacher,” Hannah said. RENEE FORTH BACHELOR OF EDUCATION SYDNEY CAMPUS Renee Forth is helping to grow the Australian Rules Football ambitions of young women across the country – both as a marquee recruit for the GWS Giants and mentor coach. Geraldton-born Renee first laced up her boots for the Coastal Titans in the WA Women’s Football League in 2011. Her outstanding on-field performance led to her selection in the WA State Team four out of the following six years. Renee played for the Melbourne Demons in 2014 and the Western Bulldogs in 2015, and was drafted by the GWS Giants for the inaugural AFLW season in 2017. Capping off a remarkable period, Renee was also selected as one of three mentor coaches for the first AFL Women’s National Academy – a specialist training program for promising young players. “Notre Dame’s support has made my experiences – both academic and sporting – very positive. I look forward to growing AFL for women and educating young minds in my career as a primary school teacher,” Renee said. Photo: GWS Giants I N P R I N C I P I O | 2 3