CHARLES STURT UNIVERSITY with KATE WOOD-FOYE

Taylah Debreceny is an emerging national weightlifting superstar and third year physiotherapy student who is shining bright on the national stage. As a member of the Charles Sturt Elite Athlete and Performer Program she is putting in the hard yards and striving to bring it home for Australia as an Olympic Weightlifter and become a practising physiotherapist.

Taylah, you are a third year physiotherapy student at the Port Macquarie campus - what drove you to pursue study and a career in physiotherapy?

I competed in lots of sports when I was younger, so I have seen lots of physiotherapists due to injuries, they have a special way of motivating people to help them get better and I’ve always loved that they use movement as medicine. The first time I met a physiotherapist was when I hurt my back training at 16. In only a few weeks I went from barely being able stand up because of pain, to back to training because of the help of my physiotherapist. This experience made me want to become a physio so I can help people who were in a similar situation recover and get back to doing what they love.

Alongside your study you are excelling in the elite sport of Olympic weightlifting –can you tell us a little about your journey into lifting and your ultimate goal?

I started doing CrossFit when I was 15 in Wauchope where I learnt how to do the snatch and clean and jerk. I competed in my first Olympic Weightlifting Comp less than a year ago, obtaining the combined lifts to qualify me for the NSW team at the under 23 Australian Championships. Shortly after my first competition I decided to go all in with my training, making the hard decision to quit CrossFit. Competing on the NSW team we travelled to Perth where I placed 7th in my weight class. I recently competed in my first comp for the year, obtaining qualification for the under 23 Nationals and Senior State Championships with the guidance of my amazing coach Izzy from Uplift Gym. My goal right now is qualifying to compete for Australia and hopefully becoming an Australian Champion one day.

You have been accepted into the Charles Sturt Elite Athlete and Performer Program that provides additional support and flexibility to those studying. How do you juggle the demands of study and competing at a national level?

University can be a very full-on time, and trying to balance it with travelling for competitions and training three hours a day can be very difficult. Having the Elite Athlete and Performer Program at Charles Sturt allows me to not stress about exams when I’m competing. Being able to stay at home while studying has really helped me, as I have such a strong support system which gives me the ability to focus on study and training and not worry about other things while in competition season.

The extra flexibility and support offered to so many athletes across Charles Sturt campuses includes offering an ability to study some courses online, special consideration for admission, options to apply for Elite Athlete and Performer Program scholarships, additional flexibility for assignment extensions when competing, access and tailored study plans and academic support.I also am able to use the University gyms and sporting facilities and get access to Uni Nationals representation subsidies.

What do you hope to share with your patients when you are fully qualified? How can physiotherapists make a difference in our community?

My goal is to work in sport specific physiotherapy in the future, working with athletes that want to return to sport after an injury. I hope to share my love for movement with my future patients, the human body is an incredible thing, and it has the ability to do some amazing things. Giving future patients the ability to pursue elite performance without the fear of injury or re-injury holding them back is something I’m really passionate about. Any advice for those wanting to study and maintain their passion for competitive sport?

It takes discipline and focus but it is definitely worth it. Finding a schedule that suits your study, training and competing will set you up for success. There are so many people who successfully study and do a competitive sport. I believe studying physiotherapy has actually made me a better athlete. It’s given me tools I can use to manage my own injuries, recovery and nutrition. It’s been an exciting journey so far and I’m keen to see where my studies and sport can take me.

Thanks Taylah.

For more details on the Elite Athlete and Performer Program - https://www.csu.edu.au/ current-students/support/elite-athletes