‘For me, I lived a sort of downplayed life. I wanted to be a stay-at-home mum, and at the same time, I didn’t share anything with anyone. I would never have done a podcast, I would never have done a speech for International Women’s Day, I would never have done that. I did not want to share my story with the world. And in doing so, it has opened up a life I could never have imagined I could live, and it has opened up the self-love and self-respect that I didn’t think I had in me, for myself. And what a way to live – I’m just so proud of myself.’ ~ Jade Sharp
In this week’s Podcast, we meet the amazing Jade Sharp, an extraordinary young woman whose journey goes from aspiring Olympic gymnast to coach and advocate for athlete well-being. Jade’s story starts as a young girl on Bribie Island dreaming of becoming an Olympic gymnast and training at the Australian Institute of Sport. She started gymnastics at 12, later than usual, but quickly became one of Queensland’s top gymnasts. Despite facing initial discouragement due to her age, Jade made it to the 1996 Olympic team. However, she suffered a severe back injury that prevented her from competing.
Jade reveals that her time at the AIS involved abuse, which she endured, believing that achieving her Olympic dream would make up for it. She now recognises the importance of the journey over the end goal and acknowledges the unsafe situations she experienced during her training. Along with the abuse, we talk about her journey of overcoming eating disorders and cancer. The conversation explores the challenges and changes in gymnastics and other sports, emphasising the importance of athlete safety, holistic development, and positive coaching practices. Jade openly and positively shares her vision for the future of sports and her commitment to inspiring others through her resilience and dedication to physical fitness and self-love.
About Jade:
Jade Sharp is a devoted wife and Mum to two teenage boys.
She is a passionate advocate for youth development, sport, and resilience. As a former international gymnast representing Australia, Jade was selected for the 1996 Olympic Games at 15 years of age and, devastatingly, fractured her spine before competing, which led to an early retirement from gymnastics.
Jade’s journey in sports began at a young age and has shaped her career and life. With over 25 years of coaching experience, she has mentored countless young athletes in both Olympic Weightlifting and gymnastics, sharing her expertise and love for movement.
Jade is a founder and head coach of the not-for-profit, Bribie Island Olympic Weightlifting Club, where she has led the team for the past decade. She also serves as the Youth Development Coordinator for Queensland Weightlifting, where she inspires and develops the next generation of leaders in the sport. Additionally, she runs her own online gymnastics coaching business for CrossFit athletes, blending her unique knowledge of gymnastics and weightlifting.
In 2020, Jade, along with others, shared her experience of abuse as a teenager at the Australian Institute of Sport, triggering a human rights investigation and legal action that led to systemic changes in gymnastics, ensuring greater safety and support for current and future athletes.
Currently also pursuing a degree in High-Performance Sport at ACU, which was put on hold last year as Jade is now battling the very aggressive, triple-negative breast cancer, having endured six months of chemotherapy, a double mastectomy, and 25 rounds of radiation and is still in active treatment.
She is committed to staying active, coaching, and inspiring others, proving that even in the face of life’s inevitable challenges, strength, resilience, and hope can shine through.
Her definition of Self Love is in the doing… move your body, soak in the sun and water, feel the connection to Mother Nature, it’s about embracing the scars and your past, and sharing with my community and giving back. It is believing in myself.
Her favourite quote is:
From quote cards – You’ve got this.
‘Wounds can become wisdom with the right perspective.’
Links to follow:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coach_jade_sharp/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@coachjade?lang=en
Quotes:
I am a mum from Bribie Island, just doing my best.
I grew up believing I could do anything I wanted.
We were not given education, only punishment.
I was so hungry and so thirsty I obsessed over it.
There are still dinosaurs in gymnastics that think it’s important to be small.
I didn’t know I had any problems until I sought help.
I have had an eating disorder since childhood.
The first time my husband and mother knew of my problems was when I was 40.
As a 43 year old I took myself off to University and was diagnosed with breast cancer.
The human body is so incredible, fit and strong.
It is about believing in myself.
I have hope for the future now.
It teaches consistency and showing up for yourself.
It’s about the whole person not just the sport.
It comes from the top down when it comes to coaching.
We are not just looking for results but what contributes to their development.
There is a win well strategy which puts the athlete first.
It is about giving back to the sport and passing on knowledge.
Let’s look at staying in the sport.
Sport is a wonderful thing to do for life.
You’ve got this.
Wounds can become wisdom with the right perspective.
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MUSIC INTRO & OUTRO
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