Eight Commonwealth Games alumni are among some of the nation’s most successful female Olympians, Paralympians, and World Champions, announced as part of 2024 AIS Accelerate, a program designed to retain the experience and knowledge of retired female athletes in sport.
The star-studded line-up announced for the AIS program that supports retired female athletes will focus on developing and acquiring knowledge, skills, and tools to navigate a professional career in sport.
The 15-strong group features the likes of Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games gold medallist and three-time world netball champion Natalie Medhurst, Commonwealth Games and Olympic gold medallist Emma Snowsill, and three-time Games medallist Bree Bryant, with the group boasting an incredible 12 Olympic Games, 16 Commonwealth Games, and 24 World Championships between them.
AIS Accelerate, which is run with the support of the Office for Women, is an educational and professional development program aiming to support retired female athletes looking to transition to a career within the sports industry.
With alumni including Rowing Australia CEO Sarah Cook, former Port Adelaide Head of AFLW Juliet Haslam, and Paris 2024 Australian Olympic Chef de Mission Anna Meares, AIS Accelerate also provides a crucial networking and support community for female athletes.
“The sustainable success of Australian sport depends on our ability as a system to attract, develop, and retain diverse and outstanding talent,” Australian Sports Commission EGM of AIS Performance Matti Clements said.
“Our female athletes finish their sporting careers with an incredible amount of knowledge, experience, and leadership skills, so it’s crucial we create the environment and opportunities for them to forge a career in sport once their athletic careers come to an end.”
Medhurst, who retired from international netball in 2020 with three world championships and a gold and silver medal from the Commonwealth Games, said sharing the experience of AIS Accelerate with female athletes representing 12 different sports will be invaluable.
For more information about AIS Accelerate and past and present participants, visit the AIS website here.
2024 AIS Accelerate Participants
- Alison Bai, Tennis Australia
- Amanda Tscharke, Table Tennis Australia
- Amber Halliday, Rowing Australia
- Bree Bryant (nee Cole), Diving Australia
- Bronte Barratt, Swimming Australia
- Chelsea Forkin, Softball Australia
- Emma George, Athletics Australia
- Emma Snowsill, Triathlon Australia
- Georgina Gotch, Rowing Australia
- Kasey Brown, Squash Australia
- Kylie Palmer, Swimming Australia
- Monique Murphy, Swimming Australia
- Natalie Butler (nee Medhurst), Netball Australia
- Rachel Orchard, Volleyball Australia
- Rose Stackpole, Artistic Swimming Australia
