Awesome Experience

Sarah Ulmer wins gold. Athens, 2004.

When it comes to rising to the big occasion, Sarah Ulmer knows a thing or three. In one of the great moments of New Zealand sport, Athens saw her storm to gold in track cycling's 3000m individual pursuit – setting a new world record time.

It's easy to forget, though, that even before Athens Ulmer was 2004 world champion. Plus, she was double Commonwealth Games champion (1998 and 2002); world championship bronze medallist; multiple New Zealand and Oceania champion; multiple world cup winner; and double Junior world champion.

Also important, Ulmer's career was sometimes tough. Injury problems dogged her 2000 Olympics and 2006 Commonwealth Games campaigns. She faced adversity with maturity – no excuses – and used her fourth place at Sydney to help fuel her subsequent Games success.

All of which makes Ulmer (who is now-retired from elite competition) a powerful source of experience, to support our Olympic athletes of 2008.

With Hamish Carter, Alison Fitch and Dallas Seymour, Ulmer is going to Beijing as part of the Athlete support team.

Exactly what she does in the New Zealand village in terms of 'athlete support' will depend on what happens – and what support is most needed by the athletes. But for sure, it'll be valued.

We asked her a series of questions about her new role, what it will entail, and what she hopes to achieve:

What will your role involve?

Good question! It's really a floating role, with the bottom line being as part of the Athlete Support Team to support all Kiwi athletes. We're there to help create an awesome environment for them, in their home away from home – the village.

It's about helping athletes feel comfortable and supported and part of a huge Kiwi Team. We'll be meeting them at the airport, bag carrying, familiarising them with the village. Generally hanging out to make them feel as comfortable as possible in the village - and want to rip their competition to bits!

Which athletes will you work with?

All athletes in the Kiwi team. Or those that want our help! No focus on any particular sport or athlete at all, there's no official matching or anything.

Have you done stuff like Athlete Support before Beijing?

I've worked with Air New Zealand as part of their Inspiring New Zealanders Mentoring programme – which is more one-on-one with one particular athlete.

The Athlete Support role will be more hands-on, and obviously working with hundreds of Kiwi athletes as part of a team. Which will be awesome. When you get a good rapport going with a certain athlete and feel like you're really contributing to their programme.

Have the Athlete Support team worked together before the Games?

The Athlete Support team know each other really well. Between being athletes on previous Games teams together, or as staff of those Games, to the times we've hung out this year - we've got to know each other well. Which is mint.

It's an awesome group of people, keen to roll their sleeves and just try and help provide a high-performance environment and slice of home away from home for Kiwi Athletes in Beijing.

Is this role really a natural extension of Athens, where you were an experienced Olympian? Did you do 'mentor' stuff there?

I guess it's a good fit for all the support team, as we've all been in Games teams – Commonwealth or Olympic – in the past. And we've all had wicked support from other Athlete Support Staff in those teams to know what a huge boost it is to feeling at home in the village.

I didn't do any mentor stuff in Athens – I was after all the mentoring I could get for myself at that stage! So it'll be bloody great to be on the other side.

So why be on the Athlete Support team?

I think having been an athlete and having been on the receiving end of true Kiwi support in a foreign environment like the Olympic Games Village, to be able to contribute to that support now - instead of always been on the receiving end - will be cool.

As an athlete, life is so self-centred. It's all about you on a daily basis, and everyone around you is doing things for YOU. So to be able to actually now think of OTHER people for a change is refreshing!

If we can make a difference – even a tiny one - to an athlete's Olympic experience, that'd be a pretty cool experience to be part of.

Is it good/weird/exciting/inspiring to be going to a Games but not competing?

All of the above! We had a get together a few weeks ago and had Sir Murray Halberg talk to us about his Olympic experiences. That was nothing short of pure inspiration.

It will be weird. There'll certainly be one thing not like the other few hundred fighting fit athletes for sure! Not competing is weird – as an athlete that's in your blood. And an instinct that you've spent so many years cultivating and strengthening.

Maybe you'll get nervous?

I will be packing myself!!! I'm a useless spectator…

Is it good to be able to pass on knowledge to the next generation of Kiwi athletes? What's the biggest thing(s) you can help them with?

You'll have to ask them! Seriously….

Was this kind of support available to you as a young athlete?

Dave Currie has done a cracker job with creating a really athlete-focussed environment within Games teams of recent years. This is solely attributed to him and the people that he has surrounded the team with. Just awesome!

As a youngster, Dad was awesome. And my brother and Mum. So I was lucky with a cool family that was supportive enough, without being smothering with it. If I hadn't had Dad there to guide me through the sport as a wee sprog once I left school, chances are I wouldn't have stuck with it for very long.

Does providing support relate to what you're aiming to do with SUB

Yeah – I guess it's all kind of related. I just love seeing any Kiwi rip into anything. SUB is about encouraging women to get into and go nuts with an active lifestyle. And the stuff we'll be doing with the Games team is all about encouraging and helping Kiwis to rip their competition to bits on an international stage. So I guess encouraging action – at whatever level – is what it's all about!

Any expectations for Beijing results wise? Or are you going with an open mind?

Totally open mind! The Olympics are a crazy beast. But New Zealand sport I think is in better shape now than it ever has been, both with amazing athletes with really good support from their own sports and also the Olympic Support environment. It'll be a cracker team to be part of!

Following her retirement from elite competitive cycling, Sarah Ulmer launched SUB, Sarah Ulmer Brand. As well as offering a range of products including women's clothing and bikes, her vision is that SUB provides great support to help more women get active and healthy.

Updated | 23 Dec 2008.

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