Being selected to represent Australia at the U20 World Athletics Championships this August is something my friends, family, and teammates have heard me talk about for the last two years, so I’m incredibly proud to say it’s finally become a reality.

I began my athletics journey back in 2021 after countless pushes from Mum and my HPE teachers to give it a go. Very quickly, I developed a love for the sport. Starting out at Launceston Little Athletics, I was lucky to be part of such an encouraging club before eventually finding my coach, Wim Vaessen.

Wim has quite literally been my rock since day one. He has always had my best interests at heart, focusing on my gradual development both as an athlete and as a person, turning shy Izzy into the bubbly person I am today, while also encouraging me to take on the heptathlon.

I competed at my first National Championships in 2022, where I was fortunate enough to win bronze in the heptathlon, and that was the moment I realised this is what I wanted to do. Since then, after giving up other sports and enduring countless nights of Tassie wind and rain, we set our sights on representing Australia at the 2026 U20 World Athletics Championships in Eugene this August.

This season became a breakthrough year for me. While Wim heard plenty of “Why am I not running faster?”, the results were quietly building toward something much bigger at the Australian Track and Field Championships. I came away from day one with three personal bests and a 100m hurdles World Junior qualifier. Backing it up on day two, I achieved an overall points PB of more than 300 points, won gold in the heptathlon, and officially qualified for the World Junior Championships.

As I prepare to compete on the world stage, I’m seeking support to help cover the costs involved. With a team levy of approximately $6,000 covering travel, accommodation, and competition expenses, every contribution, big or small, will directly support my journey and allow me to focus on performing at my very best.

I would be incredibly grateful to anyone who is able to support me and be part of this exciting chapter in my athletic career. Your encouragement and generosity truly mean the world to me, and I’m so proud to have the opportunity to represent Australia at this level.