International Women's Day - Head Coach Spotlight: Nat Roberts
Gymnastics Victoria
Gymnastics Victoria is the Victorian Government recognised peak organisation for gymnastics in Victoria.
Nat Roberts, Head Coach, Niddrie Gymnastics?
Situated in the heart of Essendon at Essendon Fields, Niddrie Gymnastics is helping promote physical activity and well-being to children interested in discovering gymnastics. The Club itself is more than 40 years old, moving into its Wirraway Road facility in 1997.
Nat Roberts is Head Coach at Niddrie Gymnastics, and not surprisingly, gymnastics has always been something she has always enjoyed.
“From a young age I loved being upside down and I spent my days doing cartwheels. My love for the sport started in primary school when my PE teacher introduced me to formal gymnastics and I spent many years training at Essendon YMCA, and then at Footscray City Gymnastics,’’ Nat recalls.
“I will forever love the sport and I feel so grateful to have a passion that has lasted a lifetime and given me so much satisfaction. I have shared my passion and love of the sport with so many young girls, including my own daughter, who now coaches alongside me at the Club.’’
Nat wasn’t always destined to be Head Coach at Niddrie Gymnastics, initially working as a legal secretary at a Collins Street law firm, but she couldn’t deny her true love and at first, worked part-time coaching a squad of young girls while working full time at the law firm. After she was married, Nat commenced full-time work with the Club, about 15 years ago.
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Clearly having a passion for what you want to do in life is Nat’s message to young girls on International Women’s Day. Her day often starts with a 6am training session with the Club’s highest-level competitive squads and doesn’t finish until after 8 pm.
“The greatest blessing in my role as a gymnastics coach is the relationships I build with the athletes and their families. The sense of belonging at Niddrie Gymnastics is strong and I always feel at home here in my happy place at the gym,’’ she said.
“Choosing a career pathway in sport is all-consuming. The hours are long, and the pressure of competition can be intense, but the moments and the memories are worth it. The saying ‘find a job you love and you will never work a day in your life’ rings very true for me. I am very blessed."
This article was originally published as part of the 2023 Essendon Fields International Women's Day campaign 'Fearless Females'. Read the full article?here.
Images credit: Niddrie Gymnastics Facebook page.
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A fabulous female at Niddrie Gymnastics, leading the charge for a more equal world and she's not slowing down anytime soon! Thanks for sharing Gymnastics Victoria.