Among the group of swimmers and an inaugural scholarship recipient was Olympic backstroker Hannah McLean, now an HPSNZ Performance Life Coach and lead of the Prime Minister’s Scholarship internship programme.
For Hannah, receiving the Prime Minister’s Athlete Scholarship was one of the first recognitions she had that she was truly part of the high performance system.
Of the 10-strong Auckland-based swim squad who went to Athens, Hannah and eight of her swim team members, including Elizabeth Coster, Dean Kent, Helen Norfolk, Alison Fitch, Scott Talbot, Rebecca Brothers (Linton) and Moss Burmeister, received Prime Minister’s Scholarships in the first wave.
“I remember it was a really big deal,” says Hannah. “On the recommendation of my school deputy principal, I left school at the end of the sixth form to concentrate on swimming and to go to university. At that time I was training 30 hours a week and the scholarship enabled me to go to uni without having to worry about working as well to fund my study.”
Hannah recalls the support from her then NZ Academy of Sport Athlete Life Advisor, Karin Adelinger-Smith (now Sport NZ National Partnership Manager). “She came with us to the University of Auckland to help us choose courses that worked for us and fitted around our training schedules and to help navigate life as a university student and as a high performance athlete.”
There are two other memories Hannah has from the first year of her scholarship. “We received our scholarship certificate in the mail – it was very fancy, very special and signed by Minister Trevor Mallard.”
Hannah’s second memory also relates to the Minister. “I recall bumping into Trevor Mallard at the airport when we were on a swim trip and so I took the opportunity to thank him personally.”
Thanks in large part to the Prime Minister’s Scholarship, Hannah completed her Bachelor of Arts in February 2004. “It was massive to head to Athens knowing I had my degree under my belt and with no student loan.”
Looking back over the 25 years and now in her role with HPSNZ, Hannah says having the Prime Minister’s Athlete Scholarship as a constant is so important to provide high performance athletes with the opportunity to have a career – in and out of the sports arena.
“It also reinforces the essential role performance life coaches play in the scholarship programme to ensure athletes receive strategic and planned support for their future.”
