Accelerating Success: Empowering Female Athletes to Reach Their Full Potential Through Mentorship

Up and coming athletes in the FAST Females program encompasses a range of activities and support mechanisms tailored to their needs and aspirations. The program is lead by the mentorship and support of Dr Marijke Welvaert, Physiotherapist Jaimi-Lee Summers, and World Championship Silver Medalist Sue Bourke.

The FAST Running Mentors provide one-on-one guidance to each athlete, understanding their individual strengths, weaknesses, goals, and challenges. Our Coaches offer training and advice on developing specific athletic skills, such as speed, agility, strength, technique, and mental resilience.

The Mentors educate athletes on proper nutrition and hydration strategies for aspiring elite athletes to optimize performance and recovery. Whilst in the gym, an athlete’s customized workout plan is overseen by a Mentor to help athletes build strength, endurance, and flexibility, while also preventing injuries.

Within the FAST Females program athletes are taught techniques for managing stress, overcoming setbacks, building confidence, and maintaining focus during competition. Mentors speak from their own perspective on how to prepare mentally and physically for competitions, including setting realistic goals, developing pre-comp routines, and analyzing opponents’ strengths and weaknesses.

FAST Running Mentors facilitate connections with other athletes, coaches, trainers, and professionals in the sports industry to expand the athletes’ support network and access resources for their development. The Mentors also assist athletes in developing essential life skills, such as time management, communication, teamwork, leadership, and goal setting, which are valuable both on and off the track.

As participants in the FAST Females program, athletes and Mentors would serve as positive role models for one another, sharing their own experiences, successes, failures, and lessons learned to inspire and motivate one another. FAST Running provides ongoing support, encouragement, and constructive feedback to help athletes stay motivated, accountable, and on track towards their goals.

For more information on how to join FAST Females or offer to be a Mentor, please contact Canberra Sprint Coach, Steve Dodt.