Hi, I’m Sophie Polkinghorne, and my athletics journey began with a healthy dose of sibling rivalry! Growing up, I was always competitive with my brother and sister, and that competitive spirit naturally led me into athletics. What started as a desire to keep up with and challenge my siblings has developed into a passion for pushing my own limits and seeing what I can achieve.

One of the biggest milestones in my journey so far has been making my first Australian team at just 15 years old. It was an incredible moment and a reward for the hard work and dedication that goes into balancing training, school, and everyday life. Another important step in my development has been training with more experienced athletes, which has helped me learn, grow, and gain confidence in my own abilities.

My immediate focus is on competing to the best of my ability at the World U20 Championships in Oregon. Looking further ahead, I’m working towards my long-term dream of representing Australia at the Olympic Games. Every training session and competition is an opportunity to learn, improve, and move closer to those goals.

Currently, I’m in Year 11 and studying music, so I spend my spare time playing my clarinet and challenging myself with a bit of public speaking. Balancing my studies alongside the demands of high-performance sport has taught me and continues to teach me valuable lessons in organisation, discipline, and determination.

Giving back to the athletics community is important to me, and I volunteer at my Little Athletics club, NRCLAC. Being involved at a grassroots level allows me to stay connected to the sport and support the next generation of athletes.

Thank you for supporting my journey. Every contribution helps me continue pursuing my goals, representing Australia, and striving towards my dream of competing on the world’s biggest sporting stage.