Cover Story Emma Snowsill

EMMA SNOWSILL, OAM

Triumphant

The most successful triathlete in the history of the sport, Australia’s Emma Snowsill is just as motivated and focused on her present and future, as a mum of two, married to 2008 Olympic champion in the men’s triathlon, Jan Frodeno, and equally determined to focus on her own health and well-being.

An Olympic, Commonwealth and triple World Champion, Emma won the ITU World Cup 12 times and graced the podium 23 times.

Her sensational performance winning the Gold Medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and her bubbly personality ensured Emma Snowsill has etched her name and her achievements in the sporting annals and the hearts of Australians.

Today, Emma Snowsill, OAM lives with her family in Spain and visits her hometown, the Gold Coast as often as she’s able. Here, Emma shares a little about her career, and her approach to health and well-being.

What attracted you to the sport of Triathlon?

What were the challenges, physical and mental, during your career?

I grew up an avid, passionate swimmer from a young age. I was fortunate to have found sport I absolutely loved. After changing schools to St Hilda’s in grade 10 to pursue swimming along with my studies, I aspired to be an Olympic swimmer. It was a very sporting school, and I became involved in running, which I didn’t enjoy. I struggled with it as it was very painful with shin splints. It took me a long time to enjoy it. Then I was exposed to Triathlon through swim club. Once I went to see a Triathlon, I was hooked. I competed in a Teams event in the swimming portion and I just loved the atmosphere. But it took me a few years until I took part in all three stages (swim, bike and run).

Injuries are something you have to deal with physical and mentally. Over time, I came to understand the nature of professional sport. Physical is only 10 percent of the equation the rest is mental. High performance is all about the mind and overcoming those physical boundaries. There are ebbs and flows, and every training session, you have to rely on self-talk, understanding your goals and working towards them. It all comes back to goal setting and the reasons why we pursue a career in professional sport. From every setback, you have to grow from those experiences and look at ways of self-improvement.

Fitness and health give me energy and flexibility of body and mind.

You must have many highlights, but what are the real ‘shining moments’ you recall and look back on with pride and emotion?

The 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne! You can’t beat competing in front of a home crowd. I still get goose bumps knowing every single person there was cheering me on. That was the second major games in my home country in my lifetime, in my career, which was very special. Then I’d have to say Beijing 2008. I always aspired as an 11 year old watching Susie O’Neill compete in Barcelona, to be an Olympian. That became my focus and I’m extremely proud of that.

As elite athletes, do you/will you encourage your children to play sport at a competitive level?

Not necessarily. I’d like them to experience as many sports and other opportunities as we can present them with. Competitive sport has to be self-initiated. It has to come from the right place. You have to love it. I won’t push it upon my young children. They need to understand the strength and the skillset required. I didn’t come from a sporting family. My sister and I were never pushed so that’s something we won’t do either. We found something inside ourselves and we grew to love it. The competitive level came about afterwards. My husband is still competing, and he’s considered the greatest of all time in our sport so I do live and breathe it beside him, but I am not involved. I have a connection and ride the highs and lows of his career with him. It’s a sport I truly love, but on a professional and personal level, I don’t need to be involved in it at this point in time.

Exercise is my life. It’s a form of meditation for me. I get a lot of satisfaction from it. When I retired and as years have gone by, I have time to focus on myself, to connect with nature in the outdoors, breathe in the fresh air. I have come to experience fitness in a different way. In competitive sport, it can become a job, regimented and lineal, a routine or a program, and the joy can disappear. Now, it’s meditative to go for a run on my own, to have that time to think and get clarity.

Sport brings out a better version of myself. It has evolved into me wanting to be strong enough, fit enough for my kids to help them with their own physical well-being, and to keep up with them snow skiing and mountain biking.

These days, I’m kinder and more gentle to my body. Fitness and health give me energy and flexibility of body and mind.

Are you involved in Triathlon these days? In what capacity?

How do you keep fit and healthy?

Favourite Things:

Restaurant: Jimmy Wah’s in Burleigh

Movie: Top Gun

It’s an old favourite. I grew up going to Gold Coast Indy and absolutely loved the fighter jets going over.

Drink: Coffee

What do you think are the benefits an Olympic Games brings to a Host City/country?

It’s incredible! As an athlete, it means so much. The Sydney 2000 Olympics were a pivotal moment for me in my career, understanding my aspirations as a swimmer and witnessing Triathlon as a new event at Sydney 2000, seeing it on the world stage. That changed my path and solidified my ambitions, fortified my dreams. It’s a great opportunity for young people to really go forth and see it as a tangible reality, the possibility to pursue their dreams.

We are lucky that Australia is such a strong sporting nation and the fact that we embrace sport as we do is beautiful. It brings the community together, from grass roots to the upper echelon and the world’s best. I still find the same excitement when I watch live events. The Olympics brings that sense of wonder, awe and adventure to people’s lives.

Then there are the benefits for the economy, tourism, and the lasting impact that new infrastructure has on young athletes and their pathways to follow their dreams. That’s the beauty of the Olympic Games – for young people to dream and aspire to achieving the highest level.

There’s so much to look forward to in 2032 and I can’t wait to see the Gold Coast evolve. Netflix/Stan series: Formula 1 series. If I didn’t take up the endurance sport of Triathlon, I would have been a Formula 1 driver.

Dream destination: As a sun lover, I like anywhere with warm water, blue skies and white sandy beaches. Sounds like the Gold Coast and since I have been away for a long time overseas, the GC is still is my dream destination.

Meal: I’m a breakfast person, so eggs! I’m a foodie at heart so love eating great food. When I‘m eating breakfast I’m thinking about lunch, and when I’m eating lunch, I’m thinking about dinner.

Beach: Has to be Tallebudgera Creek with my young children. It reminds me of Hawaii with the Headland and Park opposite.

Kids activity: Outdoor for swimming in the ocean and surfing. But we enjoy our time in Europe snow skiing.

Date night dinner with hubby: I love food, it’s a big part of our lives. It doesn’t have to be fancy, just great food, good wine, great company.