Olivia's Story
After a highly successful career in her late teens, Adelaide race walker Olivia Sandery has transitioned beautifully into the senior ranks.
Olivia had good early success in both running and race walking.
“When I was seven, my sister wanted to try out Little Athletics so my parents brought us both out to have a go. I began race walking there as an Under 8 but preferred the running events over the walk. However, in 2016, I made the U13 State team in the 1500m walk and the 1500m run and started to enjoy race walking more as I began training more."
On the roads, in February 2022 she won the Australian Race Walking Teams Championships trial for the U20 10km walk, stamping her ticket for an international debut.
In March at the World Race Walking Teams Championships in the heat of Muscat in Oman, Olivia was magnificent placing fifth, the equal highest ever place by an Australian in the junior men’s or women’s race. She combined with her teammates to win silver in the team event – Australia’s best ever result in U20 women’s race.
In August 2022 she contested her second junior world championship in the year, placing fourth in the 10,000m track walk at the World U20 Championships in Cali Columbia.
Olivia explained her recent progress.
“Over the past two years, I have been more consistent and specific with all components of my training which has definitely led to some major improvements. I have also had the opportunity to train with some of Australia’s best race walkers and coaches which has taught me a lot.”
A month after her 20th birthday in early 2023 she clocked a brilliant 1:30.14 as she successfully managed the graduation to the new distance of 20km walk. In March she went even faster, clocking the stunning time of 1:28.52 – now the fourth fastest in Australian history.
Unfortunately, she was disqualified on her senior Australian debut at the world championships in Budapest. In early 2024 she competed at her second World Race Walking Teams Championship in Turkey, where she completed in the marathon race walk mixed relay.
