Athlete Profile – Jo Koy
Athlete Profile – Jo Koy. Next instalment of Athlete Profiles is on Jo Koy. A local Townsvillian, Jo is almost always found on a track, trail, or ski anywhere around the north, proving that women can achieve anything if they just make a plan to get there. With her focus firmly set towards XPD in Townsville this year, Jo has a delicate balance between motherhood, personal goals and enjoying life.
Have you always been active?
I grew up in the country & my Dad & I loved to hike & run & ride ( my mother & brother not so much so we would go on our own allot. As a family we were into everything sports related though that was just how my family was, we did seasonal sports & everything in between. I studied sports science on the Sunshine Coast when I was 18 but got side tracked & then went & did Adventure Tourism in Cairns when I was 20. So I guess it has in some form always been a part of who I am.
Why Adventurethon?
It’s not about winning, it the journey, it’s going to be hot & tough & I’ll probably cry & at some point think I’m done, but the magic happens when you get to the other side of defeat & negativity when your spent & suck it up & finish. That’s where the good stuff is, that’s what I’m both scared of & looking forward to!!!
Tell us about why do you do off road events
I love off road events because it develops & grows you like no other sport I’ve encountered, the variables make it exciting, & the personal growth element is huge, pushing outside of comfort zones, going places only handfuls of other people go, makes me feel more in touch with not only myself but the environment, get outside you can’t go wrong, what a magical playground for all ages & capabilities.
Where do you feel your strengths lie?
My strengths, that’s a funny one I’m never sure until I’m digging deep & like life everyday is different, at this point I’d probably say determination
Who inspires you to push yourself?
My kids inspire me, my eldest asked me to get back into the things I love, I guess her intuition has steered us right, we are finding better cohesion as a family when we are all setting goals & achieving the things we want to achieve. When I’m doing it tough I think of my girls & what I’m teaching them through example & that drives me to not give up, as I would hope that they would never give up on the things that they want to achieve.
What’s the best thing about being a woman in sport?
I’m not sure there are advantages of being a women in any sport, when it’s tough it’s tough no matter what gender you are. We all share that experience.
The like a girl campaign seems to have a deep impact on me every time I watch it, as much as I have denied the difference in the above question, it is true girls & women struggle with stereotypes our whole lives. So push boundaries & live a life you love & of your design girls, it’s yours to sculpt, don’t let others impressions of what a girl should be shame or push you into a mould you don’t fit. Love life !!!
How important is your support crew to achieving your goals?
This will be the first race we have actually woven a support system into purposefully so I’ll let you know at the end !! But the support of the Adventurethon crew Joel, Tamara, Lyndell & all of the other volunteers is crucial to a good race, you guys have made all of the races exceptionally memorable to date so thank you for your support, from all of the competitors I’m sure I speak on behalf of everyone when I say that you all work hard to make the day achievable & special for every competitor & that is where the success of Adventurethon has been grown from.
What does your race day breakfast look like?
Race day breaky will be the same as everyday, museli, & toast !!
What’s the one piece of equipment that goes with you to every race and why?
I have a new awesome PFD so comfy, that will from this day forth be with me at every event !! Thanks to Adventurethon Joel & Tamara for being so selective with the product they source & sell to competitors to make a race more comfortable & achievable.
What piece of advice would you give someone attempting their first Adventurethon?
Have FUN