On this episode of Mighty Girls, our last for 2022, I'm joined by professional netballer, Maddy Proud and U14s rep netball player, Mikayla.

Maddy Co-Captains the NSW Swifts. She's also an Australian Diamonds Squad member and the author of Grace on the Court, a book for pre-teens about a up-and-coming netballer, Grace, who's tackling the issues of growing up and dealing with changing relationships.

Mikayla and I chat to Maddy about her rise through the netball ranks, what she's learned along the way and what prompted her to write her first book (and then her second and her third is in the works).

We also find out how a younger Maddy overcame the challenges she faced as she juggled sport with school and learn how she manages her mindset when the chips were down.

Shop Grace on the Court here.

Harper is an incredibly artistically talented roller skater who recently claimed first place at the World Skate Oceana Championships. She has been skating since a young age, and with the help of her coach, Teresa, has worked hard to make great progress in the sport.

On this episode of Mighty Girls, Harper and Teresa joined me to talk about Harper’s roller skating evolution to State, National and Oceania roller skating champion status.

We also discuss how she manages to balance her training with the demands of normal life. Plus, Teresa gives us some great advice on how coaches can engage parents so that they can better support their children in their chosen sport.

Harper has accomplished a lot in the past year, and 2023 is set to be even bigger for her. Go show her some love and follow her on Instagram (@harperskates_) to stay up to date with all of Harper's roller skating accomplishments! Let's cheer Harper on as she continues to hit the rink and make progress in the skating world!

Show notes:

https://www.couriermail.com.au/questnews/sport/top-5-artistic-roller-skaters-in-queensland-revealed/news-story/61625cf74f9d2246234293e3f24a261e

Meet Liv and Myla, two amazing tween entrepreneurs who've just taken out the title of 'Tweenpreneurs of the Year' in the Teens In Business Awards 2022.

Their label, Cinnamon Cove is a sustainable swimwear brand that's making waves in the industry.

I chat with Liv and Myla about their business goals and achievements, and how their active lifestyles help them manage their busy, goal-smashing lives.

Listen to Liv and Lyla on the latest episode of Mighty Girls to find out more about these inspiring young entrepreneurs.

Show notes and links

Check out the Cinnamon Cove range: https://www.cinnamoncove.com.au/

https://www.teensinbusiness.com/2022-winners

Isabella Lowe-King is making a name for herself in the world of weightlifting (she was even praised in Parliament recently by Peta Murphy MP).

She is currently ranked 2nd under 15 and is one of the top youth in her field. What's even more impressive is that she only a few years ago, she actively avoided the lifting part of the CrossFit training sessions she went to with her dad (and biggest fan), Andrew.

Her ultimate goal is to compete in the Olympics, and with her talent, passion and drive, there's NO DOUBT that she'll make it happen.

SHOW NOTES:

Isabella on Insta

Peta Murphy MP's recent praise for Isabella in Parliament

Lifter Stats. Isabella Lowe-King, Australian Weightlifting Federation

Phoenix Weightlifting

Interested in weightlifting, read more about getting started

Ava discovered her love of climbing by chance. It was the school holidays and she and her dad saw an ad promoting climbing recreational sessions for kids. They went and the rest, as they say, is history.

Ava took out the National Bouldering Championship Title this year against a tough field and her star in rising at every comp (and there are A. LOT. of them).

Michael, Ava and her mum, Jo, are now a family of climbers who spend as much time in the climbing gym as they do at home, and Ava is honing her craft, collecting titles and focusing in on representing Australia in the 2032 Summer Olympics.

Enjoy the show!

SHOW NOTES:

The Wall Climb for Gold (documentary movie): https://thewallthefilm.com

Ava's (long) list of fave climbers: Janja Garnbret, Shauna Coxsey, Brooke Raboutou, Miho Nonaka, Natalia Grossman, Ashima Shiraishi and Hannah Meul.

Core Climbing Gym (Cararra, QLD): https://www.coreclimbing.com.au

KNC Climbing (their awesome climbing shirts): https://kidznchalk.com

Got climbing a question? DM Ava and Michael via Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/avaclimbs/

Emily and Reese are 15. They're twins, they both live with Cerebral Palsy and they're both keen sports-girls. Their favourite activities and goals differ, but the reasons they sport are the same.

In the episode we chat to Em, Reese and their mum, Jenny, about:

· Which sports they love and why

· How often they train

· The good stuff they get from being involved in sport

· The unique challenges they come up against when competing with a disability, and…

· What their proudest achievements have been so far (as well as what's to come!)

Show notes and helpful links:

Listen to Em’s gorgeous voice in her role as Quest the Quokka on ‘The Wonder Gang’ via iView: https://iview.abc.net.au/show/wonder-gang

Interested in get involved in Paralympics? Find out more here:

https://www.paralympic.org.au/get-involved/

Great article about the rise in sports participation among kids from Child Magazine (includes ideas of sports disabled kids might want to consider and clubs to contact): https://www.childmags.com.au/disability-sport-on-the-rise-how-to-get-your-child-involved/

Paris 2024 Paralympics website where you’ll see Reese’s profile and results in a few years’ time: https://www.paralympic.org/paris-2024

“I have the drive and will and grit to win. Determination gets me through". - Elise Virr, Tennis Player, 12 (QLD). Elise is ranked the # 1 12 years and under female in QLD and she's ranked # 10 in Australia!

She's got her eye on a career in tennis, and listening to her talk about her passion for her sport and her commitment to her goals will get even the most unmotivated person ready to leap into action.

With Wayne, her father and biggest fan, by her side, we talk about how she got into tennis, what she loves about it, how she juggles tennis with school and much more.

Thanks for joining me (and Elise and Wayne!) for this very first episode of Mighty Girls!

Mighty Girls is brought to you by Eltee Sydney. For Girls Who Love to move. https://eltee.sydney

SHOW NOTES:

Playcasta: https://www.playcasta.com

Babolat: https://www.babolat.com

Sports Recovery: https://www.sportsrecoverycentresaus.com

St Hilda's School: https://www.sthildas.qld.edu.au

Elise' coach, Ben Scott: https://www.instagram.com/ben10nis

Want to arm yourself with more information around the causes of sports disengagement among girls?

Women in Sport have developed ‘8 Principles for Success’. They’re the key steps in minimising the barriers girls experience so they can make sport and exercise a more meaningful and exciting prospect in their lives.

Read more in the full report (March 2022) (https://www.womeninsport.org/.../Tackling-Teenage...). It's from the UK but the findings are pretty much a carbon copy of results of similar research on young Australian girls.