Competing internationally on the European circuit, Sarah has steadily built experience, resilience and momentum as she has worked towards her goal of qualifying for the Winter Olympics.

Sarah’s career reached a major milestone when she was named an injury alternate for the Australian two-woman bobsleigh team at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics. While narrowly missing the opportunity to compete, the experience proved pivotal.

“That experience was really tough for me because I was so close. It made me go back to the drawing board and reshape my goals to approach them a different way.”

Following Beijing, Sarah made the decision to transition from brakeman to pilot, taking on the responsibility of steering the sled and leading her own Olympic campaign. Since then, she has focused on building consistency and competitiveness as a pilot on the international circuit.

But competing at that level comes with a significant financial burden. A single bobsleigh season can cost Sarah at least $60,000, even before unexpected expenses are factored in. Major costs include:

• • Bobsled: approximately $60,000 for a second-hand two-man sled, or up to $140,000 new
  • Runners for the sled: approximately $12,000 per set
  • Accommodation: approximately $15,000 for the season
  • Training runs: around $120 per run, with two to three runs per day across two to three weeks of pre-season training
  • Van hire: approximately $20,000 for the season, excluding fuel and tolls

With limited government funding available for bobsleigh, Sarah relies heavily on community support to cover essential expenses such as equipment, travel and accommodation. To help make her campaign possible, she has been fundraising with the Australian Sports Foundation since 2019.

For the 2025/26 season, Sarah has raised more than $20,000 to contribute towards critical equipment, including sled runners, strengthening her preparation and performance as she continues her push for Olympic qualification.

“Being self-funded is tough in this sport. Staying in bobsleigh would’ve been really difficult without the funds I’ve raised through the ASF.”

SHARING EVERY PART OF THE JOURNEY

For Sarah, successful fundraising has come from being open about what life looks like as a self-funded winter athlete, not just sharing results on competition days.

“Share every part of your story. The action, the behind-the-scenes, the cool things, the highs, the lows. All of it. It will get people interested and more likely to jump on board and support.”

Throughout her campaigns, Sarah has shared online with supporters the realities of training and competing overseas, from long days on the track and equipment preparation to the travel and logistics that come with racing across Europe. By bringing supporters into those behind-the-scenes moments, she has helped people understand both the commitment required and why fundraising is necessary to keep her campaign moving forward. 

This approach has allowed her community to follow her progress more closely and feel genuinely invested in her journey, not just the outcome.

USING SOCIAL MEDIA STRATEGICALLY

Social media has been Sarah’s primary tool for sharing her fundraising campaigns and keeping her community engaged, but she takes a considered approach to how she uses each platform.

“I use Facebook to go into a bit more detail about why we’re raising funds,” Sarah said. “A lot of people there already know me and my story and are really supportive.” 

On Facebook, Sarah shares longer updates about her season, the realities of being self-funded and what the funds are helping her achieve. Instagram, on the other hand, is used more sparingly, with shorter, more direct posts designed to capture attention and direct people to her campaign. She also links her fundraising campaign directly in her bio, making it easy for people to support her without needing a direct ask. 

“I don’t like being pushy, but being open and honest about my situation helps people understand what’s involved and why support matters.”

By tailoring her message to different audiences and focusing on transparency rather than promotion, Sarah has been able to build strong engagement and consistent support across her campaigns.