Sam Bremner, Rugby League Player, Jillaroos
Having grown up in a family and community that loves rugby league, Jillaroos player, Sam Bremner strongly believes that NRL is more than just a sport; it is a culture full of passion, support and mateship.
When asked what inspires her the most, Bremner, who also owns her own gym, says: “As much as training can be hard, and to stay constantly motivated can be extremely challenging, I love striving towards goals.
“Nothing beats that moment at the end of a tough game, knowing that all yours and your team mates’ hard work has just paid off – it makes it all worth it.”
When we asked what she’d like the future of women’s sports in Australia to be like, Bremner was quick to reply: “I would love for women’s sports to be supported to the extent where the struggle of working a full-time job, full-time training, with study, family and other commitments is not an issue anymore.”
Her mantra: “Work hard, stay humble, and make the most of every opportunity.”
Bremner is pictured here wearing the Samsung Gear S3 Frontier Smart Watch in Black from Harvey Norman
Amanda Farrugia, AFLW Captain, GWS Giants
“A woman is strong when she follows her passion, without hesitation or the need to justify herself,” says Farrugia, who’s also a school teacher. “This might sound straightforward, but so many women encounter obstacles in fulfilling their dreams because of social pressures or expectations.”
She speaks about how courage plays out for sportswomen, but also non-sporting women: “An athlete may show courage by going back with the flight of the ball to take a mark, or putting their head over the ball with no regard for what is coming towards them. Others show courage by overcoming adversity, naysayers and social stigma to pursue their passion for the game. That takes courage also.”
“Harvey Norman have been the catalyst for much of the professionalism that’s become synonymous with women’s sport in Australia,” says Farrugia, “Their commitment is much more than just about financial investment. For us at the Giants, it is important to know that an organisation believes in the players, the clubs and the brand of football we bring to the public. Katie Page [Harvey Norman’s CEO] is responsible for much of this and we cannot thank her enough.”
To see women in sport be equally celebrated as their male counterparts is a future Farrugia looks forward to.
Her mantra: “To be the best at something, you have to do the things that others are not willing to do.”
Amanda Farrugia is pictured wearing the Garmin Forerunner 235 GPS Watch in Frost Blue from Harvey Norman
Simona De Silvestro, Supercars Driver
A great thing about car racing: men and women compete on an even playing field, there’s no separate men’s and women’s comp. “Gender is removed from the equation; we’re all just drivers,” says De Silvestro, who is the first full-time driver in the Supercars Championship in Australia.
Her inspiration? De Silvestro answers:
Preparation is key for ultimate performance, and motivation for De Silvestro comes from the knowledge that there’s no room for second chances. “It is part of my everyday life to keep training. There’s so many different elements that go into getting a race car to go fast. I need to make sure that I am doing all I can to maximise myself. I know that the better I train, the better I can race.”
Her mantra: “Knowing that I’ve prepared as much as possible gives me extra motivation.”
If you want to find out more about De Silvestro, check out In the Fast Lane with Simona De Silvestro.
De Silverstro is pictured wearing the Fitbit Blaze™ Smart Fitness watch in Slim Pink & Gold from Harvey Norman
Katie Kelly, Paratriathlete
Kelly, a gold-medal winner at the Rio 2016 Paralympics, firmly believes women shouldn’t let anything stand in the way of a dream. “I reached out to Harvey Norman some 12 months prior to my campaign to try and qualify for the Australian Paralympic Team in the sport of Paratriathlon,” she says Kelly.
“Having worked in sports marketing in my professional career, I certainly understand the nature of sponsorship and why companies may or may not be able to lend their support. I really didn’t expect a large Australian company like Harvey Norman to be sponsoring someone like myself with very little profile and certainly one who is not in the mass market. But there it was!”
Kelly is excited to see the popularity of women’s sport growing, as well as women’s para sport. “On a broader scale, the biggest impact Harvey Norman has made is ensuring Women’s sport is now getting more visibility on our screens.”
“I’ve now been able to set up my own foundation – Sport Access Foundation, which provides grants for future aspiring young Australian children living with a disability to play sport.”
Kelly is pictured wearing the Polar M430 GPS Running Watch in Orange from Harvey Norman
Leah Percy, NRL Touch Football Player
What does Percy, who’s also a mum, love about sport? “Life can be full-on at times and I think sport is one of the greatest outlets one can have. It inspires you to spend time doing something you really enjoy, to get fit, to meet new friends and create plenty of memories.
“Sport can also create some great role models for the next generation to look up to and learn from. We have had many role models and pioneers who have had to deal with so much to get us where we are today.”
Percy feels the landscape is changing and sportswomen are starting to gain some of the attention and exposure they deserve. “I am looking forward to my daughter growing up in a time that female sports persons are celebrated and recognised in and out of the sports arena.”
Percy is pictured here wearing the Project Nursery Mum + Bub Smartband Tracker from Harvey Norman
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