By Emma Xerri
Around 250 excited students at Hampton Park Primary School were graced with a visit from Olympian long jumper and two-time Commonwealth Games Silver medalist Brooke Buschkuehl through the Victorian Institute of Sport’s Play On program.
Speaking on her journey to the Olympics and the Commonwealth Games, Brooke spent the morning providing an insight into her own sporting journey, while exploring Play On’s four key topics: female athlete heath, mental health, nutrition and inclusivity.
And having been hard at work with their athletics training all of term one, the visit could not have come at a better time for the students, who are enthusiastically gearing up for their upcoming Athletics Day.
“I think it was really well received,” Brooke said.
“I had a lot of kids coming up to me after the presentation and thanking me for sharing my story and for the information I was able to provide.
“A lot of them seemed really inspired by my story, and that’s what I love about the Victorian Institute of Sport. It’s super rewarding for us athletes to be able to tell our story and share useful information, insights and learnings from our own careers, especially knowing how much I would have benefited from that at their age.
“The main aim is to try and inspire the next generation of kids coming through to chase their own dreams, and not just sporting dreams, but any dreams they may have.
“Some of these students might want a future in elite sports but might not know what it takes, so hopefully they can learn something and make some changes that can have a positive impact on their sporting journey.
“And at most of the schools I’ve been to, you can definitely see how uplifted the students are after the presentation, so it’s a really nice feeling knowing you’re having some sort of impact, even if that’s just on one child.”
But according to Hampton Park Primary School PE teacher Rebecca Sparks, the impacts extend far beyond just one child.
“Teachers have been able to use lessons from her visit in the classroom,” Ms Sparks said.
“Students have been researching her, excited to learn more about someone they’ve actually met by researching her for their studies.”
But what truly united the students was their shared “shock” over Brooke’s Australian record jump distance of 7.13 metres.
“There were lots of gasps when they actually measured the distance with a tape measure,” Ms Sparks added.
“And every student got to hold her medal, which was a huge opportunity for these kids. Not many would otherwise get the chance to hold a real medal.
“It gives them the sense that they can achieve anything, and that if they give something a go and put their minds to it, that anything is possible, even the Olympics. And this doesn’t just relate to sport.”
For Brooke, who continues to be shocked by the students’ excitement when she walks into a room, even after 10 years with the Victorian Institute of Sport, the benefits of events like this one are definitely mutual.
“It’s a fantastic way to be able to give back,” she said.
“It’s seeing the kids’ faces light up, not only when you enter the room as an Olympian, but after the presentation when they want autographs and photos with you and want to see your medals.
“It just feels like the room is really lit up by your presence, which is a really nice feeling.
“And I think a lot of schools don’t actually know they can access the program and have an athlete visit their school, so if we can get the word out there, then I’m sure more schools could benefit from it.”
The Play On program is free for government schools, with funding from School Sport Victoria (SSV). Non-government schools can also participate for a fee.
For more information about Play On and the Victorian Institute of Sport’s other school-based programs, visit vis.org.au/vis-community-programs-victorian-government-schools
