Unity College student chosen for Olympic change-maker summit

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A Unity College student is one of 26 young leaders from around Australia chosen to shape the future of the Olympic movement.

Year 11 student Bridie Loller is a house captain at her school, co-captain of her Tailem Bend netball team, and a member of a Netball SA youth advisory group.

Now her advocacy for rural youth has taken her to Canberra, where she connected with other young people creating positive change in their communities through sport.

She has also got to meet a few Olympians, including Olympic gold medal-winning swimmer Mack Horton.

Bridie said she felt “incredibly happy and proud” to have applied for the program, let alone been accepted.

“I am very excited to collaborate with some like-minded people and get the opportunity to talk to Olympians such as Mack,” she said.

“The other groups are also filled with some very impressive and talented people that I am so blessed to be able to meet.

“I’m also ecstatic about the opportunity to explore and stay at the AIS (Australian Institute of Sport).

“It’s … an extremely rewarding and exciting experience – it’s a dream come true, really.”

Bridie’s application was chosen from among almost 1000 submitted by year 10-12 students around the country.

Australian Olympic Committee CEO Matt Carroll congratulated each of the successful applicants for the impact they were already having in their communities in the lead-up to Brisbane 2032.

“They demonstrate our future is in very capable hands,” he said.

“I look forward to meeting the 2023 change makers … and, most importantly, hearing the students’ ideas that can help progress the Olympic movement.”

• More information: www.olympics.com.au/australian-olympic-change-maker.