Nina Kennedy is an Australian pole vaulter and Olympic athlete, fresh off her gold medal win at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. In this candid conversation, we explore Nina's inspiring journey—from her early days in little athletics to drawing inspiration from Steve Hooker’s gold medal win, and ultimately rising as one of Australia’s top pole vaulting talents. We discuss the complexities of the sport, including the physical demands, the critical role of preparation, her winning mindset and the financial realities of a career in track & field. Nina also shares her decision to leave a part-time job to dedicate herself fully to pole vaulting, her experiences with mental challenges, the responsibility she feels as a role model in women’s sports, plus much more. Follow Mark Bouris on Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter & YouTube.   You can subscribe to the newsletter here: https://lnkd.in/e7C8akgj. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.