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THE OLYMPICS AND BEYOND St Peters Springfield recently welcomed back Mollie O’Callaghan from the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. She was enthusiastically received by staff and students from Prep—Year 12 with a Guard of Honour and a visual display of the Aussie ‘Green and Gold’! Mollie then participated in a Q & A session with secondary students, sharing her recent experience with the College. MAI THATCHER
springfield marketing & events officer
A
t just 17 years old, Mollie was the It was after this first race and through youngest member of the Australian extensive support from her parents and Olympic Team. All her hard work, dedication, commitment by Mollie that her inherent perseverance, and countless hours spent talent has been able to develop in a sport that training culminated in her outstanding she loves. performance at the Olympics. Mollie “Anything is possible if you just put the work returned as an Olympian, able to use the into it. I train hard and am always constantly letters ‘OLY’ post-nominally and as a member trying to improve so I can see how far I can go of the most successful Australian Olympic in Swimming for the future.” Swim Team ever. A winner of two Gold medals and a Bronze medal, the third fastest The training is no easy feat. Mollie attends up to nine training sessions per week, with each Australian female Freestyle swimmer over session ranging from two to three hours. 200m ever and, the Junior World Record Her commitment to training is not the only holder in the 200m Freestyle. attribute to her success in the pool but it is For the team at St Peters Springfield, we are also her mindset. Mollie’s mindset means not only proud of Mollie’s many achievements that when she’s on the block and about to in the pool, but also how she has represented start a race her primary focus is to beat her herself outside the pool despite the immense own Personal Best. pressure and expectations of competing on an international stage. Mollie remains humble Mollie is an inspiration to all in our College community. While we may not all be bound and shows gratitude and appreciation for the for the Olympics, we can nonetheless wider network of family, friends, coaches aspire to have the strength of character, a and teachers that have helped her to live her quality she possesses, to make most of the dreams. This is all while studying to achieve opportunities before us and pursue the goals her QCE and an ATAR qualification. and dreams we have and hold. Her competitive Swimming career started We would like to also acknowledge the at the age of seven. Mollie had watched her older sister compete but had no real interest guidance and professional support of Mollie’s in Swimming herself until she was presented St Peters Western Swim Club coaches, Dean Boxall and Maxine Sear, in addition to Jeremy with the opportunity to participate in a 25m Lohe (St Peters Springfield, Head of Sport) race. During her first competitive swim her and the wider teaching team at Springfield for father walked alongside her down the edge supporting Mollie on her journey to date. of the pool, not knowing if she could swim the distance. Mollie recalls, “At the start, I With so many achievements under her belt did not like Swimming. But once I competed already and with the Plus Ultra mindset, my first race, I fell in love. It’s the racing we’re sure Mollie will have many more aspect I enjoy the most.” accomplishments in the future. The College is behind you and cheering you on!
Plus Ultra | November 2021
