Sport, Health & Wellbeing
Swimmer stays financially afloat thanks to scholarship
Ten training sessions at the ACT Academy of Sport, three to four days working as a waitress and part time university study – it’s a lot to fit in to one week.
However, that’s exactly what University of Canberra Elite Athlete Kayla Hardy has been doing to ensure she can reach her swimming and study goals, and stay financially afloat.
Recognised as a student who is both dedicated to their sport and committed to their study, that financial pressure has now been eased, thanks to a $10,000 scholarship awarded through the Eldon and Anne Foote Trust.
“Receiving this scholarship means a lot to me,” Kayla says.
“The scholarship will be used to fund all the competitions that I have coming up, with World Championship Trials being held in Melbourne in June. I've used the scholarship money so far for the accommodation, so now I can just focus on making World Champs in Japan and then the Olympics next year, that’s a big one.”
Kayla is on track for success, qualifying last year for the world short course championships after recording two qualifying times at the Australian titles and, just a few weeks ago, coming home with two gold and two silver medals at the Swimming Nationals in Sydney.
The latter was alongside six other UC athletes, including fellow scholarship recipient Jasmine Greenwood . Kayla also broke a UniSport record in the Women’s 400m Individual Medley, recording a time of 4:49:46.
“It was great to race the top university athletes. It was such a fun experience and I plan on hopefully doing it again next year,” Kayla says.
Fresh off a heavy training block, and now tapering her training sessions in preparation for her upcoming events, the Bachelor of Exercise Physiology and Rehabilitation student is able to complete much of her study online.
“The balance between study and training is really important to me,” Kayla says.
“With over 20 hours a week of training and trying to do well in my university degree, it’s really important to be able to have flexible learning.
“At the moment I’m part time and doing two units. I do a lot of my study online and I have to come in for prac every week, so it has been manageable.”
Words by Aggie Bradshaw, photos by Tyler Cherry and supplied.