Jerwood Scoops Prestigious Mentorship Through SAHOF

Western Australian sailor Nia Jerwood has received a highly prestigious mentorship opportunity afforded through the Sport Australia Hall of Fame.

The 19-year-old Fremantle Sailing Club member finished 13th overall with fellow West Aussie Monique de Vries at the 2017 470 World Championships in Greece last July, whilst the pair more recently collected a silver medal at the Junior Championships in Japan.

Jerwood receives the opportunity as one of five of Australia’s brightest young stars and will receive mentoring from an Australian sporting great, as part of the 2018 Sport Australia Hall of Fame Scholarship and Mentoring Program.

Awarded annually as part of the Sport Australia Hall of Fame Induction and Awards Gala Dinner – Jerwood will be presented with her scholarship by mentor Liane Tooth on Thursday, 12th October 2017 at Palladium at Crown, Melbourne.

Jerwood hopes the opportunity can help her build her career towards her lofty ambitions that include following in the footsteps of her WAIS coach Belinda Stowell.

“My long-term goal is to continue sailing for Australia and win a medal at the Olympic Games,” Jerwood said.

Having taken up the sport at an early age, it was a case of following familial footsteps for Jerwood.

“I got tired of waiting around on the shore when my older siblings went out sailing, so my parents decided to buy me my first boat at age five.

“They have both sailed all their lives and have been very supportive of my journey in the sport,” she said.

Jerwood will be mentored by former hockey player and two-time Olympic gold medallist Liane Tooth OAM, who was the first female hockey player to compete at four Olympics.

“I am really looking forward to the opportunity that I have been given to be mentored by Liane,” Jerwood added.

“She is not only a very successful athlete having won two gold medals, but has also dedicated a lot of her time to creating greater opportunities for women in sport.

“I believe I have plenty to learn from Liane and am really looking forward to being inspired.”

A two-time Olympic women’s hockey gold medal winner from 1988 and 1996, Tooth was also one of eight Olympic flag bearers at the 2000 Sydney Games.

“I feel honoured and excited to be offered this mentoring role with Nia, who has had some terrific results recently,” Tooth said.

“I’m looking forward to sharing experiences and lessons from my sporting journey and hope that I can add value to Nia’s journey and assist her to reach her goals.

“I think it’s a great opportunity for a young athlete to have someone that’s not invested in their sport to offer a different perspective.

“My role as a mentor will be to have regular interaction with Nia, discuss her aspirations and challenges for the future.”

Sport Australia Hall of Fame Chairman John Bertrand AO, who was a mentor to 2013 scholarship holder and Olympic silver medallist sailor Olivia Price, said the mentor program is a once in a lifetime opportunity.

“These scholarship and mentoring programs are designed to give our young athletes a turbo boost into the real world of high-end performance on the world stage,” Bertrand said.

“It is a truly money can’t buy experience and the success rate has been a phenomena.”

• SAHOF