Jenny Blundell

After a wonderful six years at school Jenny successfully completed her HSC at CTHS in 2012 and went on to study Exercise Sport Science at the University of Sydney.

Since completing her studies Jenny has been working full time as an Exercise Physiologist and, of course, training in preparation for the Olympics.

In her 21st consecutive year in the sport, Jenny Blundell secured her second Olympic appearance, after a challenging few years and leadup.

Jenny’s journey in athletics started in under-6s in Little Athletics. “I feel in some way athletics chose me. From such a small age I had talent and the will to compete. I have always loved it”.

She was an outstanding little athlete at Cherrybrook, regularly breaking state records.

At 15, she won the national under-20 800m title and secured selection for the inaugural Youth Olympic Games in 2010, where she placed fifth in the 800m and fourth in the medley relay. The next year she made the semi-finals at the World Youth (U18) Championships. She started to progress up the distance ladder and in 2012 was selected in the 1500m for the World Juniors (U20) Championships. Showing her versatility, upon her return she won the National Junior Cross Country title.

Over the next few years she transitioned into seniors and was now a 4:12 1500m athlete. In 2016, with the Rio Olympics approaching, she destroyed her PB with times of 4:09, then 4:04.62 to secure Olympic selection. At the Games she was impressive, progressing to the semi-finals.

She had a strong season in 2017, including a European tour, but was followed by injury and she just missed Gold Coast Commonwealth Games selection placing fourth in the trials. For the next two years she rarely raced.

Blundell described it as one of the most challenging periods of her life.

“Getting injuries and navigating the transition from university into the workforce. But it's been a good challenge and has made me the tough athlete I am today.”

Her return in early 2020 was in a new event, the 5000m, where she surprised the athletics community with a brilliant 15:22.14 in the National Championship, a 32 second PB in the event.

Georgia Winkcup

Georgia, like Jenny, had a very successful time at school and after her HSC studied Arts/ Law. Since completing her degree she has transitioned to full time work as a lawyer and, of course, spends a great deal of time training and racing as she has prepared for the Tokyo Games.

Georgia Winkcup was encouraged to start athletics very young by her former world record holding Grandmother, Betty Moore.

“I started athletics when I was in the under 8s at Cherrybrook Little Athletics because my Grandma had been a fantastic hurdler when she was younger and encouraged my cousins, brothers and I, to give it a go,” she said.

Initially a distance runner, in her teens she started steeplechasing under her then coach Ross Forster. She enjoyed the event and had some success winning the Australian All Schools U18 2000m steeple in 2013. Three years later she was a finalist in the 3000m steeple at the World Junior Championships, as she was settling into her busy study program (Arts/Law) and part time work as a Paralegal

She suffered a few injuries and there was no progress for a few years, although she was still building and continuing to race and train.

In late summer 2019 there were glimpses of progress at the Australian Uni Games where she ran her then second fastest steeplechase (10:18) followed 10 minutes later by an 800m PB. Then in June in Townsville at the Oceania Championships she destroyed her previous PB by 29 seconds, clocking 9:46.51 and placing a close second. She rates it as her "most memorable sporting achievement" to-date.

“From that moment my planned holiday and Contiki trip through Europe was changed a little as I was able to get on the start lists for a few international races, something which I had never expected when my season ended in April.”

Three weeks later she ran another PB (9:45.98) in Belgium, then two weeks later in Birmingham amazingly she sliced another eight seconds from her PB to clock 9:37.43, achieving a qualifying standard for the 2019 World Championships. In Doha, she ran 9:50.31 in the World Championships heats.