The Word with Wendy Petrie

Kiwi Alpine Racer Alice Robinson’s brave moves, building resilience, through homesickness & contracting Covid-19.

When the Covid Pandemic began, 18 year old Kiwi Alpine Ski Race Champion, Alice Robinson realised she needed to leave New Zealand to continue to compete on the international stage. For two years she trained around the world through the chaos of Covid, until she also contracted Coronavirus, in the midst of a competition, having hit a career high placing in a new discipline called Super G. She admits struggling with homesickness, feeling as though she was unable to get away from it, being exhausted and just wanting to go home and hug her family. But two years later and still living away from home, she says she’s learnt resilience, to be adaptable.. and believes she’s come out of it far stronger. She's reaching even greater goals with the Tokyo Winter Olympics her next step. Her story is inspiring.  

Music credit: Ghost n ghost, Sir Ghostington

Kiwi Rally Driver, Emma Gilmour on signing with McLaren& smashing stereotypes.

Breaking down barriers is something Kiwi Rally driver Emma Gilmour’s been doing for decades. As a young rising star, she realised she was never going to be one of the boys, so she set about forging her motorsport career as one of few woman in a male dominated sport. Signing a deal with McLaren has been a dream come true for Emma and marks the first time a female has become a driver for the prestigious brand, which began with New Zealand racing legend Bruce McLaren. Find out what keeps her going, through dark days and why she’s encouraged by many more girls taking up motorsport.

The Word with Olympic champion rower Emma Twigg. How she pushed through self-doubt & disappointment to achieve her dream.

Emma Twigg’s story is one of resilience & endurance. Already a world champion rower, with more accolades that can be counted in her long stellar career, Emma gave up after her third Olympics having failed to medal yet again. Her comeback began when she realised she still had a passion for the sport. In just getting to the Tokyo Olympics, she faced many hurdles. 

Find out how she’s fought through gutting lows to great highs. With mental health in the spotlight for our elite athletes, Emma says they do need support. As a gay rower she hopes to be a role model for the LGBTQIA community. At 34, find out if she’s committing to her fifth Olympics in three years!

Music credit: Hard Boiled, Kevin MacLeod

The Word with Silver Ferns star shooter Maia Wilson. A dual international at just 19 years, the now 24 year old is empowering others after revealing her battles with body image and inner demons..

"It made me feel I wasn't alone." Star shooter, Silver Ferns Maia Wilson reveals being overwhelmed by the huge outpouring of support for her heartfelt Instagram post, revealing her longtime struggles with body image. By 19 years of age, Maia had represented New Zealand in both basketball and netball. Turning down a US Basketball Scholarship, just out of high school to play with the Silver Ferns, Maia has faced tragedy and learnt to deal with adversity, breaking down her inner demons. She hopes to educate other up and coming athletes about overcoming setbacks, dealing with a high performance environment, and the pressure to fit a certain body image.  

Music credit: Hard Boiled, Kevin MacLeod

Teenage swimming sensation Erika Fairweather on making an Olympic final beside her idol, Katie Ledecky. ”I realised I am good enough”

I chat to teenage swimming sensation Erika Fairweather on not only making the Toyko Olympics at just 17 years old but also an Olympic final. "I realised I am good enough." The Dunedin head girl at Kavanagh College tells me how she literally shakes all the nerves out before a big race & shares her mindset on coming back from disappointment. Fairweather turned down lucrative American scholarships to stick with her coach & her dream of making her second Olympics, Paris 2024. 

Music credit: Hard Boiled, Kevin MacLeod

New Zealand swimming champion Lewis Clareburt on Olympic Experience, where it all began & becoming a TikTok star.

I chat to New Zealand swimming star, Lewis Clareburt about the Tokyo Olympics, the moment he knew he wanted to be up there with the greatest, and how he became a Tiktok sensation. Lewis speaks frankly about how hard it is to be a competitive swimmer through the big highs and big lows. How he almost gave up and what kept him going. He reveals what he loves about swimming, respecting the grind and his mindset in races. How Playstation kept him busy in quarantine.