O'Donnell said her primary education was also unique, going to the Blackall Range Independent School, which shunned traditional classroom education and held many lessons run by parents. And that I think has been the extraordinary difference for professional womens sporting leagues and teams is that theyve had to grow and blossom and be criticised in the most ridiculous level of scrutiny both on social media from anonymous abusers but also from just you know male commentators saying this is boring I dont like watching this and it wasnt that long ago that I was commentating Road World Cycling Championships and we were hearing commentators from other countries saying this is a boring race nothings happening with therefore womens cycling is boring without any insight into the idea that these women are not only different physiological beasts but its a different race with different team numbers. Bridie O'Donnell's recent post did not go down well with many AFL fans. [00:07:56] But I was a very academic kid and so I studied really hard through high school and I was completely mediocre at team sports and I wanted to be a leader like I was so desperately trying to be the best athlete and I just wasnt I didnt have enough speed I didnt have enough agility and all those things that you do when youre playing netball and touch football and some of the sports that have really big in teams here in Queensland. But we also need the networks to to buy into it too because at the end of the day everybody benefits if they have the foresight to invest in it at whatever level. So all I need to do my job is curiosity persistence support from my employer and my colleagues and a willingness to learn and anyone can do any job when they had those four characteristics. We don't have much information about She's past relationship and any previous engaged. But it is frustrating when you see the standard of play in the success of play because often the argument is so well medals will will win for funding means as it does in the UK for example with lottery funding they want to see the medals first but it can be a catch 22 as well. "After spending all that time training and learning how to ride a track bike, the actual night unfolded amazingly smoothly, and was just a wonderful feeling of elation and satisfaction afterwards," she said. Theres no way were going to get that across the line. We now had over 100 women last 18 months benefit from our scholarship program where they apply through a competitive process to get to five or ten thousand dollars to seek out an educational opportunity to advance their sporting career or their administration career whatever it is they do in sport and rec but we also know that systems need to change and thats where board quotas support it. But I was a very academic kid and so I studied really hard through high school and I was completely mediocre at team sports and I wanted to be a leader like I was so desperately trying to be the best athlete and I just wasnt I didnt have enough speed I didnt have enough agility and all those things that you do when youre playing netball and touch football and some of the sports that have really big in teams here in Queensland. Then, in her mid-30s, O'Donnell made the sharp pivot to professional cycling, a field where she. Last week Dr O'Donnell was inducted into the 2021 Victorian Women's Honour Roll under the 'Change Agent' category. Bridie returned to full time work in 2013 as a behavior change physician at Epworth health check in Epworth breast centre with a part time role teaching doctor patient communication at Deakin University Medical School from 2013 to 2016. Youre dealing with very powerful people generally men whove had their power for a long time. Bridie O'Donnells income source is mostly from being a successful . Where do you see Australia right now in terms of equality. Less than 10 per cent of the coaches of all teams at the Commonwealth Games were women and worse than that. And it has been outstanding and we are now supporting New Zealand South Australia W.A. During her residency she was a rower and then an iron man triathlete and finished theq Ironman highway world championship in 2006. What would she save in a fire, whats her most useful object? [00:26:32] No absolutely thats a copout. The rigors and sometimes the bullying and abuse that comes with professional sport. In 2016, at age 42, she broke the womens world record for the longest distance covered by bike in one hour. That photograph was circulated by a very well-known AFL photographer here Michael Wilson whos received awards for the photo. You know the cricket team and others. But it is frustrating when you see the standard of play in the success of play because often the argument is so well medals will will win for funding means as it does in the UK for example with lottery funding they want to see the medals first but it can be a catch 22 as well. And then what needed to come from that and there were nine recommendations that came from this report and the Victorian Government committed to implementing all nine of them. Its not actually how well am I getting along with my family my children my wife my husband my parents. And we have seen a huge shift in the way Paralympic sports and pro athletes are being invested in here and of course we saw Dylan all cult winning at Wimbledon and the US Open in the mens wheelchair tennis but still no womens wheelchair tennis categories and that what I would argue is probably through a couple of the Normal barriers around a lack of depth of athletes those athletes havent had anywhere near as much support both financial emotional and logistical support to become wheelchair tennis players. And when it is provided to them in a really classy package if you like it at the best stadium with the greatest amenity and the best TV coverage and free to air they will watch it. [00:22:31] And she said well you know what I did some digging and I found out that everyone checks their responsibility or their part to play in the way. If we were to simplify wed say our three strategic priorities are increasing the number of girls and women participating in sport and aggression. 2018 saw ODonnell publish Life and Death, a memoir detailing her experiences as a cyclist in Europe. The joy of having secured that first pro-contract was quickly dented by some fairly harsh realities, not the least of which was seeing the damage some cyclists were prepared to inflict on their bodies inthe pursuit of success. [00:29:50] So these are things like nipple Victoria hockey Victoria swimming Victoria and three years ago before I even started they were instructed that there would be a board quota. What were seeing now is those people are being left behind. Bridie ODonnell shares three special things. You fail a lot. You fail a lot. There was definitely a bumpy start and Im sure that the governing body the AFL they did receive criticism. Six years of med school was helpful but actually following around the senior doctor and thinking Okay heres what being a surgeon involves. For anyone who I mean for most people who work in sport or even volunteer in sport its the passion that drives them its the reason that you get out of bed every morning and some of those days are extraordinarily difficult and heartbreaking. You are my reputation as a sporting nation but just to give a little bit about Graham Brady is to your sporting history because youve been very involved with sport actively as a triathlete and then as a cyclist. And interestingly the response by the AFL media was to remove the photo and then the Internet responded even more vociferously people in support of her and of womens sport by saying this is not the solution removing womens images from public spaces is not the way to silence critics. Now if we come back to Australia and we look at the WB ls a great example we have the fourth season of The Womens Big Bash. Bridie ODonnell has enjoyed two very different careers. View popular celebrities life details, birth signs and real ages. She is from Australia. Bridie ODonnell in full cycling mode in the US in 2012. Shes very tall incredible flexibility of this photograph of her kicking so her legs completely apart almost 90 degrees flexible hips incredible flexible flexibility and strength. in Queensland to help to help them fast track their board quotas in whatever form it they are helping them learn for our from our mistakes and our lessons. Best of 2016: Bridie O'Donnell's world record breaking hour in photos, The stories behind the stories: CyclingTips editors share their favorite articles of 2016 and why, The women's world hour record climbs again: Evelyn Stevens rides 47.98 km, Beyond fitness: What it takes for a world hour record attempt. And weve seen more than one women a week killed by her former husband or intimate partner which is a devastating statistic in this country that we need and we are working very hard to remedy. But my goodness it does allow you a context and help you deal with strong personalities and we say that a lot in where Im working now as a sports administrator or working in government. You mentioned a couple of times there Bridie in the last few minutes about the Fitbit the free to air TV that that makes a big difference in terms of exposure for womens sports. It also saved me when we would arrive at 2.5 star motels with awful pillows that inevitably led to terrible sleep. Teach you about what what it requires to be a woman in leadership and sport in Australia. What theyve also done is looked around and thought Wow we dont have a lawyer or we dont have a community fund raiser or we dont have a person who understands around membership protection. Her legs already had veins showing, which is a sign of limited body fat; I was struggling to determine where she was going to lose nearly 10% of her body mass. Thats sort of resistent attitude. O'Donnell is a world champion road cyclist, a former rower, and triathlete. The progress that the organization has made to advance women and girls participation in sport and the challenges that lie ahead. Bridie O'Donnell was born on 29 April, 1974 in Australia. [00:38:38] Its my life you know. For anyone who I mean for most people who work in sport or even volunteer in sport its the passion that drives them its the reason that you get out of bed every morning and some of those days are extraordinarily difficult and heartbreaking. And as the saying goes you know you cant be what you cant see that that access is critically important. And then when theyre not the fastest anymore they dont know what to do next. Her argument would be that all those smaller concerns over her long-term health could be dealt with later in life. Or you can post your comments on our social media at Facebook Instagram and Twitter or LinkedIn. She is quite reserved. There are still definitely haters and trolls and people who are abusive. And when Peggy talks people listen. But what were seeing now is many more questions about how Okay okay we get it but how are we going to do it. Usually former players umpires referees presidents etc. And we do look forward to continuing the conversation with you so thanks again and well stay in touch. Womens educations and capabilities are not a problem. Six years of med school was helpful but actually following around the senior doctor and thinking Okay heres what being a surgeon involves. [00:13:22] Well thats like where its very nicely into my next point. , money, salary, income, and assets. These werent really. Has this been a lifelong passion and did you. And look were winning the mens ashes too. There was no chance I could have been a lightweight; I was too tall with healthy but heavy muscle mass that would have required me to radically transform my eating habits. Thank you for listening and turning up the volume on womens sport. During her residency she was a rower and then an Ironman triathlete, and finished the Ironman Hawaii World Championships in 2006. Bridie returned to full-time work in 2013 at Epworth HealthCheck and teaching doctor-patient communication at Deakin University Medical School. But Im curious as to where you see the progress that youre making. CEOs and board directors and the stats are mind boggling 96 percent of women in leadership positions across all industries have been competitive athletes. As a doctor, and being well aware of ideal training methods, nutrition and exercise physiology after spending three years studying for my sports medicine exams, I knew what I was seeing was unsustainable in the short term and unhealthy in the long term. So people were engaging then theyd know they know they all know who Alex Perry and Alyssa Healy and all these players are now because they saw the footage of them they know those names are recognizable and now every woman and man who is a cricket fan in Australia they can name those players that someone said Can you name five women who play cricket. It was free to air on Channel 10 Channel 10 did an amazing job not only of broadcasting it but as you know the power of social media of retweeting great little clips of some of the really strong athletic performances of women batting and bowling etc. So whilst we do have a reputation of being healthy and bronzed and tanned were in fact you know I think we have the third highest rate of childhood obesity in the world behind the US and Mexico. So all I need to do my job is curiosity persistence support from my employer and my colleagues and a willingness to learn and anyone can do any job when they had those four characteristics. The progress that the organization has made to advance women and girls participation in sport and the challenges that lie ahead. When I offered an unsolicited opinionone that in any way questioned maladaptive or unhealthy behaviorit was greeted with silence, a dismissive and wagging finger, or eye-rolling. And we have nowhere near enough adult women participating in organised sport. The first day she gets it and I am living breathing example of that that I had never worked in government before and all I was was just a washed up athlete doctor. Once the road went up and gravity became a factor, women whose physiology could generate power while carrying as little weight as possible were the benchmark. You know we have a really a problem in Australia against violence against women. You have to work with people of varying abilities different types and motivations and you have to rally them all you have to have a plan and b c and d when things dont go your way. And its amazing what it is to be constantly comparing yourselves to world champions because firstly you have to learn to deal disappointment on a regular basis but what it also does is it actually really reframes your way of thinking about well what can what do I need to do to perform. And these images and these these styles of leadership also show us that being a coach or an umpire or CEO or a president does not have to be one way doesnt have to be delivered one way by one type of old authoritative suit wearing table thumping man. And I do find myself thinking that a lot whatever work Im doing I think you know what Ive been in a worse situation than this. I think no go do the deal with our channel 7 9 or 10 or ABC or SBS which are our national broadcasters because its not good enough anymore to just say oh thats not our job. Now if we come back to Australia and we look at the WB ls a great example we have the fourth season of The Womens Big Bash. Bridie graduated as valedictorian from the University of Queensland medical school and won the G R S last prize for the most outstanding intern in 1999. During my first week riding in Italy, after the team presentation and before we embarked on the season of racing up north, one of my teammates insisted she had to lose 5kg, otherwise everything would be very, very bad. Or you can post your comments on our social media at Facebook Instagram and Twitter or LinkedIn. I can tell you that. I discovered this when I was a professional cyclist, and realised it was the only way to be comfortable while squished in the back of a team van during the long 14-hour road trip all the way from central Italy to northern Spain for a bike race. As long as many more episodes of different shows we have now over a thousand episodes and a global audience reach now of more than three million. But as you saw not only from the extraordinary performances of the US national womens team but the one point one billion viewers and the stadiums that were packed out is that people want to see and witness the best quality sport on offer. Because Im most curious about this you know being in the media for as long as I have. Shes very thoughtful and contemplative but shes extremely powerful. One of them is being done by the Australian Institute of Sport led by Kate Palmer CEO. Systems are the problem. You know how to deliver you keep going when youre tired you keep going when youre annoyed when it rains when its windy. But we do have a lot of great wheelchair athletes who did very well obviously in Rio and do very well. Look at the proof of how thats raised the profile of womens soccer in this country because thats now on free to air TV and you can find that on the networks every week during season some of the coaches say oh sorry to interrupt you but I was just thinking about a lot of the coaches will say high performance coaches will say they still want to see people at games and that Lisa Alexander talks about this with netball and the super nimble coaches will say we want you to come. The dilemma for me was obvious: my concern for her health, and my medical knowledge about the long-term effects on her body and her mind, let alone her career, were constantly in my thoughts. [00:16:29] Dont rub it in. Im not suggesting that we all need to endure. [00:22:49] Well why doesnt the UCI the governing body say if you want to hold a rice race licence you have to broadcast X amount and you have to provide the footage and everyone would pass the buck and say its not their job. Our guest this week is Dr. Bridie ODonnell, Head of the Office for Women in Sport and Recreation in Melbourne, Australia to discuss the issues affecting women and girls from her perspective, the progress that the organization has made to advance women and girls participation in sport and the challenges that lie ahead. Eating little to lose a lot wasnt restricted to my teammate in Italy, and it wasnt the first or last time I would ride with a woman whose peak performances coincided with a body fat percentage edging dangerously close to a medical admission. I was one of 70 who applied and one of 12 who got selected to be part of a testing programme. The Silver Ferns where were sitting and we also saw and Im sure this photograph reached across the world is the photograph of Taylor Harris That was the most glorious examination and image of a woman kicking sheet. Theyre powerful for women and theyre equally powerful for boys and men. With power-to-weight ratios being such an important factor, the female athlete has a far greater risk of suffering eating disorders than does her male counterpart. And unfortunately under that category of niche was womens sports. The upper limit of the lightweight category was 59kg, and the majority of women who rowed for Australia were heavyweights. Hardiness and resilience were prerequisites. This service may include material from Agence France-Presse (AFP), APTN, Reuters, AAP, CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced. When people talk about the sacrifices required of women in sport, they rarely consider body image and physical health, but if my years in the professional peloton taught me anything, its that this problem requires a far greater level of understanding and care. Now shes a young AFL footballer playing for Carlton who has not only incredible strength and agility but she has this kicking style thats very characteristic for her. And I think also our sporting nature nation culture is a bit is a bit mythical. Id like to own the WNBA and Id like to purchase a team for my daughter and we see that happening a lot is that sport is propped up by benevolent donors passionate fans people buying teams for their sons thats happening in this country and yet its not happening for womens legs and I mean how was it blown away by some of those stats from the Womens World Cup. Bridie welcome to the program. [00:04:31] You can imagine there were dozens or they said to me you know 100 women and men applied for this job. Ensuring that girls and women can show up to sporting clubs and feel safe included theres not just this sort of dark mahogany with pictures of men who won in 1963 that these places are family friendly and people want to. Before rowing, when I was an ironman triathlete, leanness in the elite women was a common physical feature, and a requirement for athletes frames to endure the rigours of a nine or 10-hour event. Talent transfer athletes had basic physiology that was often dramatically different from other riders, and we lacked the innate riding instincts that come from growing up in cycling-mad European countries. Peggy ONeil shes the president of the Richmond Football Club here the first woman to be president of an AFL club which is no mean feat and certainly as an outsider to a non Australian. Thats a powerful image of a man who knows her sport. We know in many cases that can lead to violence. [00:28:48] Yes absolutely and weve covered them here on WiSP Sports going back to whats on your desk now. She would also not need to, given the low intensity of the session. One of them is a beautiful gold pendant necklace that has a small glass and gold medal on it. 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