Rowing Olympian Hannah Every-Hall, winner of the 2012’s National Championships in rowing, is visiting Aranda Primary School as part of the Australian Olympic Committee’s Olympic Day celebration on Friday 21st of June. Her message to the students is to “give it everything… and never give up.”

Every-Hall and Aranda primary school teacher Kellie Nissen will engage an audience of  students from kindergarten to Year 6 and involve them in various sport and fitness activities. 

 “The visit from an Olympian will reinforce to our children that perseverance, efforts, and striving for excellence can lead to exciting opportunities, ” Principal of the primary school, Phil Gray said.

Every-Hall’s determination to inspire is derived from her own personal struggles. In the past, battles with an ovary disorder deemed her unable to compete for a year. And even when she managed to pick herself up for the Athens’ Olympic Trials, she was forced to withdraw after an anaphylactic reaction sent her to hospital.

It was then that Every-Hall decided to start a family giving birth to two boys. In 2010, she revived her Olympic career, achieving gold in the National Championships for three consecutive years 2010, 2011, and 2012.

When asked about influences throughout her life, Every-Hall spoke highly of her husband, “The most amazing, inspirational and supportive person I know.”

Her father, who also played a significant role in her sporting career has given her advice in the past.

“What will be will be. You can only do your best!” he said.

Every-Hall’s advice to Australian athletes of the future is to “Give it everything you have, and as long as you believe you want it, don’t give up… don’t forget there is a bigger world out there too!”

Holly Watson and Jaskiran Kaur
The Reporters Academy – Ringwood Secondary College