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Our leading female athletes discuss the drive and determination
needed to succeed.
If there’s one thing that binds these
remarkable women together, apart from being professional athletes,
it’s the lure of gold at the Olympic Games. Some, such
as Lauren Burns and Alisa Camplin, have reached that height
and snatched victory. Others, such as Jane Saville, got so
close it was almost within her reach. Younger stars, such
as Leisel Jones, are still on their way, chasing a dream of
podium glory. But they are already winners; talented and dedicated
to their sport, role models pursuing their dreams. And that’s
worth celebrating.
After joining the sport of mountain biking
just three years ago, Niki Gudex is already ranked as the
number two female downhill rider in Australia. In 2001, she
represented Australia at the World Championships. As cross
country riding is an Olympic sport, she's focusing on representing
Australia in 2004 in Athens.
You started out
as a competitive snowboarder. How did you get into mountain
biking?
I started because of an injury from snowboarding. I was on
a trampoline and was practising flips when I fractured my
T4 and T5 vertebrae. Everyone was going, ‘oh my god we'll
call an ambulance’ and I was like ‘it’s fine
just leave me alone and I’ll get up soon’. And then
I realised a bit later on I couldn’t move. It wasn’t
as bad as it could have been and probably sounds worse than
it was, but for me it was a sort of turning point. I moved
to Jindabyne but I was quite tentative on the snowboard. One
day I ended up getting on a bike to watch some friends and
I took a short cut back through the bush and had to make my
own track and it was so much fun. I got back to the house
and was telling someone about it and that’s when I found
out there was actually a sport called mountain biking.
What do you love
about the sport?
It’s just fun and you are in control. It feels natural
to me and once you are on a bike you’re not thinking
about tomorrow or the next day. You are right there in the
moment and it’s a good place to be. Each day I can train
harder, I can ride something more technical, you are constantly
able to fulfil the desire to improve.
What have you
learnt from your sport?
I think the sport has given me more confidence. It’s
given me a better insight into who I am as well, because when
you are out riding, you really get a chance to examine yourself
and see who you are and where your strengths are and sometimes
you can really surprise yourself. My best training rides happen
when it’s hailing or something like that, I love stuff
like that.
Is winning everything?
My favourite results have been when I did really well but
didn’t necessarily come first. It’s not necessary
results driven but it’s rare that I am not happy with
what I have done because I just try to do the best I can.
At some point you have to realise there’s no point worrying
that you could have done better, you just have to keep looking
ahead and moving forward.
Profile: Margaret Merten. Photographed by:
Richard Bailey.
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