Some of Australia's most successful and well-known Olympians will visit Armidale next week as part of a special event organised by Presbyterian Ladies' College.
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Five-time Olympic gold medallist Ian Thorpe, multiple medal winner Liesel Jones and bronze medal water polo player Holly Lincoln-Smith will make their way to town as part of the Olympics Unleashed program. The event next Friday will see the athletes make presentations on how they reached their elite-level sporting goals with the aim of inspiring members of the community to reach their potential in any given field.
Lincoln-Smith won bronze at the 2012 London Olympics as part of the Australian women's water polo team and is really looking forward to passing on her story to people in Armidale alongside Thorpe and Jones.
"I am so excited," she said.
"I remember my heroes and athletes coming to schools and chatting to me about the Olympics and how much that inspired me when I was younger on my journey and if I can do that for other kids, I would love to.
"Obviously we are athletes, we are Olympians, but it is about whatever passion you have, whether it is sport, music, dance, whatever, just to make sure you unleash and reach your potential to the best you possibly can.
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"That might not be the Olympics or the top level but [it is about] not resting on your laurels and working as hard as you can to be the best you can be."
Lincoln-Smith didn't want to give away too much about her speech but said she will talk about all the highs and lows of her sporting career.
"I talk about my very first game, I wrote myself a contract telling myself I would make it to the Olympics. The story goes from there about this 13-year-old girl fell in love with the sport and that little girl stayed with me throughout my whole career from when I was 13 to when I was 28," she said.
The event will be held from 5pm on Friday, February 28 as part of PLC's community open day. Everyone is invited from students, athletes, coaches, parents, supporters, family, friends and the local community.
Visit plcarmidale.nsw.edu.au/events/upcoming-events or call PLC on 6770 1700 to find out more and to register to attend the event.