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Emma Jeffcoat is a strong and daring Australian Olympic Triathlete, competing at the Tokyo 2020 Games in the Women’s Individual Triathlon (26th) and Mixed Team Relay event (9th) in its Olympic debut. Emma grew up competing in surf lifesaving on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, and after graduating as a registered nurse with a Bachelor of Nursing, she turned her attention to elite Triathlon and the World Triathlon Series. Now, having achieved numerous podiums on the world stage, Emma wants to share her firsthand stories and lessons learnt while striving towards gold at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
IWD is crucial for shining a necessary spotlight on all the inspiring and incredible work women are doing globally.
It’s about taking a day to recognise, listen, learn, motivate, and applaud one another.
Hopefully one day we won’t need a special day and we can acknowledge the amazing work of women equally and frequently.
As a professional triathlete, I think of myself as just that, not a “female” professional triathlete. I train for 30-35 hours each week across swim, bike, run, and gym in an elite squad of male and female athletes. I love turning up to work at training, being able to push my limits, and getting the best out of myself.
It has taken me many years to feel comfortable in my journey. It still challenges and disappoints me at times when I hear comments and disrespectful questions from people outside the sport around areas like appearance, financial viability, physical ability, and gender “norms”. There may be no malice behind it but as women, we fight an uphill battle against misinformation and assumptions.
I believe in educating others and having the confidence to share an accurate representation of my profession as an Olympic Triathlete.
In the World Triathlon racing series, we compete as men and women on the world series circuit over the same calendar, with the same racing opportunities and broadcasting rights, over identical race distances, for the same amount of prize money and bonuses. I used to be told how lucky I was to receive these standards. Now I know I deserve these same conditions on our world series, and I am proud of my sport for continuing to support this.
Our sport continues to grow in popularity. I’m sure everyone knows someone who has done or is working towards a triathlon these days, which is awesome. One example of the triathlon’s evolution is the mixed team relay event, which debuted in Tokyo 2020. The 4-person relay order has historically been female, male, female, male. It will now switch to male, female, male, female until the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, providing equal opportunity, exposure, and challenge to both men and women.
Say no more. Sitting courtside watching in awe of Ash Barty at the Women’s 2022 Australian Open final. With the nation’s expectations weighing on her shoulders, it was inspiring to see Ash’s composure and tenacity as she come back from well behind in the second set to take out the Grand Slam win. Ash took the win with true humility, passion, and pride. She is a terrific person and role model for all Australians.
One behaviour I would love to break for all aspiring women is the feeling that we have to prove ourselves to earn the right to stand among men on an equal playing field. We are worthy to be, speak, work, train, race, share and celebrate beside our male counterparts.
DARE to dream big!
Work hard and you will deserve everything that comes your way.
Olympic Triathlete
