Australian race walker and IOC Young Leader has made a remarkable impact at the Paris 2024 Olympics by earning bronze in both the individual women’s and mixed team events. Her success underscores her commitment to perseverance and hard work, principles she actively advocates through her project, “Play On.”
Juggling intense training for the Olympics with her medical studies, Montag has also contributed to the IOC Young Leaders 2021-24 program. This initiative has been instrumental in supporting her “Play On” project, which aims to provide adolescent girls in Australia with essential skills and knowledge to remain involved in sports and recreation, reflecting her dedication to health, physical activity, and gender equality.
Montag’s holistic approach to her training, competition, academics, and community involvement has been remarkably successful. At the Paris Games, she made history by securing third place in both the women’s 20km race walk and the innovative mixed relay event with her teammate Rhydian Cowley. She stands as the first Australian woman in over 50 years to win two athletics medals at a single Olympics.
Montag’s achievements serve as an inspiration for young girls, encouraging them to pursue their sports dreams. Reflecting on her journey, Montag shared a motivating message: “Play On is my philosophy,” stated the 26-year-old. “Sport is about community, belonging, making friends, and enhancing physical and mental well-being, whether you’re competing at an Olympic level or just having fun in your backyard.”
Montag believes that the process of earning her bronze medals—while leveraging her Olympic platform to inspire future generations—is as valuable as the medals themselves. “This achievement is a wonderful testament to our years of hard work, but the real joy lies in the preparation, the friendships forged, and the life skills we’ve developed along the way,” she said.