Champion race walker Jemima Montag won two bronze medals at the Paris Olympics, but it was her heartfelt post-race comments that won over Australians. She passionately encouraged girls to stay involved in sports, not necessarily to become champions but for the sense of belonging and leadership skills it can foster. Her message resonated widely, with one commentator calling it “one of the best post-race interviews of the Olympics.”
Jemima, who is also studying medicine at the University of Melbourne, has a strong commitment to social change. She founded the Play On campaign, which aims to break down barriers to physical activity for adolescent girls. Through Play On, she and other female athletes have reached over 2,000 students in Victoria, promoting health, body image, and inclusive
environments.
Raised in Melbourne, Jemima grew up participating in various sports before focusing on race walking, achieving early success like winning the 2014 Oceania Race Walking Championships. Her accolades include gold medals at the Commonwealth Games and a silver at the World Championships. Beyond medals, Jemima’s mission is to create a lasting impact through sport.
Jemima is available for media and PR opportunities, corporate hosting, speaking engagements, and brand partnerships.
Talking Points
AN OLYMPIAN ’ S TOOLBOX: HIGH PERFORMANCE MINDSET
This presentation translates key lessons from high performance sport and psychology for businesses and teams who hope to maximise their potential. Jemima will use interesting examples from her sporting career and extract key take-aways for the audience in areas such as cognitive expansion, approaching challenges, and removing the fear of failure.AN OLYMPIAN ’ S TOOLBOX: HIGH PERFORMANCE MINDSET
Outcomes:
- Start with self awareness - a simple Venn diagram
- An introduction to cognitive expansion to make room for discomfort and pressure.
- An approach to reframing challenges as opportunities for growth
- How to be better than your competitors using a self-referential focus and determining your superpowers
- The difference between wanting success but not needing it
- The freedom that comes with articulating our identity beyond what we ‘do’
- The balancing act - how to juggle multiple commitments and look after yourself
- Are we motivated by fear or by our values, and why does it matter?
- Our cultural tendency to be passive is holding us back - becoming intentional and willing
- Remove the fear of failure by understanding the subtle difference between disappointment and regret
- Why so many of us underperform when the pressure is on - a simple approach to executing what matters and performing every time.
PLAY ON - WOMEN IN SPORT: HOW TO SUPPORT US AND THE POWER OF DOING SO
Having navigated the journey from a sporty little girl to an Olympian, Jemima has witnessed first-hand the transformative impact of sport on women and girls.PLAY ON - WOMEN IN SPORT: HOW TO SUPPORT US AND THE POWER OF DOING SO
However, she has also seen many of her sisters and friends drop out, facing unique barriers. In this presentation and drawing on the “Play On” initiative that she developed during her time in the IOC Young Leaders program, Jemima passionately shares solutions, emphasising how sport can be a powerful tool for developing life skills such as leadership, confidence, resilience, and self-awareness and how these qualities not only benefit women in sport but can be translated into the workplace, relationships, and daily life.
LEADING WITH PURPOSE: IGNITING TEAMS AND SPARKING LASTING CHANGE
Jemima Montag is best known for her recent bronze medals in Paris and her memorable post-race interview, but her impact off the track is equally impressive.LEADING WITH PURPOSE: IGNITING TEAMS AND SPARKING LASTING CHANGE
From co-captaining the World Youth Track & Field team at the 2015 World Youth Games in Colombia to her numerous leadership roles in school, Jemima has always led by example—showing up prepared, motivated, and ready to inspire. She believes leadership is not just about "doing" but about empowering others: supporting the team, motivating them, identifying strengths and weaknesses, and helping each person discover their unique superpower.
Over the years, Jemima has learned the value of delegation and trust, understanding that building a successful team means creating something greater than the sum of its parts. In this keynote, Jemima will share her personal leadership journey, offering insights on how to inspire, empower, and create a thriving team environment; and demonstrate why true leadership is about creating a movement where everyone can grow and succeed together.
Video
IOC Young Leader Jemima Montag: Paris 2024 medal hopeful is encouraging girls to Play On
Having recovered from a difficult period that left her questioning her dedication to sport, Olympic race walker and Paris 2024-bound Jemima Montag is using her experiences to inspire girls in Australia to stay engaged with sport through her IOC Young Leaders project, Play On.The most important lessons in sport with Jemima Montag
Community, belonging, dedication, leadership and friendship… these are the life lessons race walker Jemima Montag says are most important in her sporting career. With such a strong mindset and achievable advice for young girls wanting to play sports, it’s no wonder Australia has fallen in love with this #Paris2024 Olympic bronze medallist!Thank you so much for your presentation yesterday. The women absolutely loved it!! The vibe and energy in the room you created was sensational. Chatting with them after the session they were ... keep reading Tennis Australia
