Ahead of the Cape Town Sevens series this weekend, I am thrilled to be joined by the captain of the Canadian women’s 7’s team, and Olympic silver medallist Olivia Apps. Olivia is a two – time Olympian, and this year she led the first ever Canadian women’s team to an Olympic final. She has also participated in two Rugby 7’s world cups, two commonwealth games, a rugby 15’s world cup and has been involved in the Rugby 7’s world series for the past 6 years. She also made the Women’s Seven’s dream team of the year as chosen by World Rugby.
On the podcast, Olivia and I dive deep into the Olympic silver win in Paris this year. With the team claiming a place on the podium and writing history, the reinvention of the team since Tokyo in 2021 has been a journey of intensity. Olivia takes us into that journey, and how the team rebuilt. Speaking through the hard times, we get a powerful, inside view of the years that Canada came 11th or even 3rd, and how working through the years with goals in mind was key to where the team has evolved to today. While she may be missing the Dubai and Cape Town sevens, Olivia shares with us about the players who will be getting a change to step into the team and grow on the world stage. We discuss what the Paris win means for women’s rugby in Canada, and how Olivia chooses to lead her team as a captain who inspires the players around her to be their most true selves. Personally, we also talk about alopecia, and Olivia’s outlook on her life since her diagnosis at a very young age.
The post Olivia Apps – Rugby’s Authentic Leader first appeared on She Speaks Sport.
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35:56
Kate Christowitz – Building Community in Women’s Rowing
Kate Christowitz is a retired Olympic rower with a passion for building equity in rowing, for women. As the chair of the athletes Commission for RowSA, Kate is also a dedicated coach who loves sharing her knowledge for rowing with young athletes. She is also the director of rowing at St. Stithians College where she maintains and develops the rowing fleet.
In this episode, Kate shares her journey from discovering rowing as a young girl at St Mary’s to becoming an Olympian, highlighting the transformative power of sport and community. We dive into the Women in Rowing initiative, a movement uniting women across South Africa to tackle key issues in the sport and celebrate their shared passion. From the first event in Joburg, to exciting plans for provincial gatherings, we discuss how this vibrant community is growing and making waves. Discover the camaraderie, resilience, and connection that define rowing, as Kate shares stories from her career and her work with young athletes, and the joy we felt at seeing Paige compete in the 2024 Olympics.
Whether you’re a seasoned rower, a coach, a supporter, or just curious about the sport, Kate Christowitz also provides all the details on how to join and become a part of this growing community for women in rowing.
The post Kate Christowitz – Building Community in Women’s Rowing first appeared on She Speaks Sport.
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24:00
Jasmine Cho – Queen of the Air
This year Red Bull King of the Air has created its first ever Women’s Division in this premier kitesurfing competition which always features the best athletes from around the world. We will get to witness a unique showcase of female talent and athleticism in this historic event that is sure to be a game changer for women’s big air. Joining me to talk about the upcoming competition and her journey as one of the participants is Jasmine Cho. Born in Korea, raised in the U.S and now considering Blouberg as her home base, Jasmine has been a big air kitesurfer for a number of years, with prestigious events behind her name.
On the podcast we talk about her journey from being a film director in New York City, to fully dedicating herself and her time, to the sport of kitesurfing. Having applied for King of the Air three times in the past, Jasmine Cho always believed in the need for women’s inclusion in Big Air and with this year’s competition, she talks about the meaning of this inclusion for women, and the effect this will have on other competitions. We talk about her recent crash in Brazil, and dealing with the process of the fear factor following her fall, and how she is embracing this as part of the journey. We unpack the wind factor in Cape Town and how she is acclimatising to the denser wind conditions that Cape Town offers. Among the female competitors, Jasmine lets us in on the support for one another and the unique sisterhood and friendships that have formed through competition, and how being on the big air circuit has created a unique energy among the women.
The post Jasmine Cho – Queen of the Air first appeared on She Speaks Sport.
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36:05
Michaela Leonard – Australia’s Passionate Rugby Captain
Michaela Leonard is the current Wallaroos Captain and is one of the most experienced player sin Australian history, with 32 test caps to her name. She took over the captaincy in 2023 and has led her side to victory in the WXV2 tournament that recently wrapped up in Cape Town.
On the podcast, we discuss the WXV2 tournament and the journey leading up to it. Michaela opens up about the mindset the team had at the start, their goals of maintaining their world ranking, and ultimately aiming to win the WXV2 title. We dive into the crucial warm-up games against Ireland and Wales, and how those matches shaped the team's learnings and prepared them for the upcoming challenges in Cape Town. As captain, Michaela shares her ongoing leadership journey, highlighting the strength that comes from collaboration. She also gives a special nod to the strong leadership surrounding her, underscoring how empowering each other is key to the team's success.
In a fascinating twist, Michaela also reflects on her transition from basketball to rugby and how she went from never watching a rugby union game to now becoming a key figure in a sport she truly loves.
The post Michaela Leonard – Australia’s Passionate Rugby Captain first appeared on She Speaks Sport.
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35:29
Mieke de Ridder – Beyond the World Cup
The Women's T20 Cricket World Cup may be over, but the emotions are still running high. Join me this week as I dive deep into the heart of the Proteas campaign with Mieke de Ridder, the talented wicketkeeper and right-hand batter for the Proteas. She made her international debut for the national team over a year ago against Pakistan and was part of the world cup squad that just wrapped up their campaign in Dubai.
From the historic semi-final victory against Australia to the heartbreak of the final loss against New Zealand, we unpack the moments and experiences that defined the team's journey. Mieke opens up about the profound impact of these experiences on the team and cricket fans alike, offering her personal perspective on coping with triumph and disappointment. We also get straightforward about how we both dealt with disappointment from opposite sides of the game, as a lover of the game and as a player.
Curious about the five individuals Mieke de Ridder honoured on her shirt? Want to know how she discovered her passion for wicketkeeping? And who are some of the individuals she credits with helping her grow into the confident player she is today? Tune in as we explore these questions and more in a conversation that goes beyond the scoreboard. Hit play and relive the unforgettable moments of the World Cup with us!
The post Mieke de Ridder – Beyond the World Cup first appeared on She Speaks Sport.
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