For most elite athletes, being the best in one sport is the ultimate goal – not for teen sensation Imogen Moore. She dreams of representing Australia at the Olympics in two sports: athletics and hockey.
Imogen, a 13-year-old multi-sport athlete at Illawarra Academy of Sport (IAS), excels in hockey, athletics and surf lifesaving.
In her two years with IAS as a hockey and surf lifesaving athlete, Imogen said she has benefitted immensely from the program, as it has enhanced her teamwork, confidence and professionalism.
“IAS is like being part of a really big team, I see my friends at the morning gym sessions, it makes training so much easier,” Imogen said.
“In addition, having the extra support of the IAS has really helped with my confidence.
“They have helped me through providing gym sessions with really good training programs and opportunities such as media training and sports psychology.”
Being a two-sport athlete at the academy, Imogen has joined its Futures Stars program. This has been very beneficial, particularly in her hockey career.
“I don’t come from a family that plays hockey, so Mum and Dad can’t really help me,” Imogen said.
“Futures Stars has provided me with the extra training that I really need to take my game to the next level and I love every minute.”
Imogen grew up an avid sports lover, competing in hockey, surf life saving and athletics. She spends most of her free time playing other sports that catch her interest, such as Oztag, AFL, snowboarding and mountain-biking.
Her family has deep ties to surf lifesaving: her grandfather was a life member of Kiama Surf Lifesaving Club and her dad is a patrol captain at the club.
“I started nippers with my older brothers, even before I was old enough to be registered as a nipper,” Imogen said.
“My mum was an age manager for my older brother, so I just started joining in.”
Imogen’s mum wanted her to experience a team sport, so when some of Imogen's friends started playing hockey at Kiama Hockey Club, she joined too.
“We signed up straight away and I have played hockey with Kiama ever since,” Imogen said.
Imogen has a passion for athletics, finding joy in arduous work-outs. After discovering her talent for sprinting in Year 2 through school competitions, Imogen progressed to state levels. She takes part in the 100- and 200-metre sprint, which has aided her beach-sprinting skills.
“Sprinting is just something I love to do,” Imogen said.
“I love to compete and the hard training sessions don’t scare me.”
Imogen maintains a comprehensive training routine, balancing hockey with three weekly sessions and 10 minutes every day on the mini hockey field her parents made at their home. Each week she also dedicates time to four sprint sessions, two absolute speed sessions and surf lifesaving flag training.
Her achievements started at her first Country Championship, when she won gold in beach sprint and silver in flags. Since age 9, Imogen has consistently medalled at state competitions. A highlight was securing bronze in flags at the Australian Surf Life Saving Championships. In hockey, she has been selected multiple times for the MacKillop Hockey team. In athletics, one notable achievement was coming within 1/10th of a second of breaking a Zone record at the Little Athletics Zone Championships in Wagga.
One of her big goal's this year is to be selected for the NSW Under-14 team in hockey.
Even though her natural talent, hard work and dedication account for much of her ongoing sporting success, Imogen is still quick to credit IAS staff for their support, training, and community-mindedness.
“I would like to thank all of the staff at IAS for the way that they support all of the athletes.”
