For seven years, Melissa Wilson had been training in rowing with one goal in mind: Compete at the Olympics. And, she got oh so close, qualifying for Tokyo in 2019. But then the Olympics were postponed – something that has never happened before (FYI The Olympics have been canceled three times before due to war, but never postponed).
During the global pandemic, Melissa got injured and this forced her to pull out.
Even though she was unable to participate, Melissa pivoted her attention from competing as an athlete to how else she could use sport as a force for good. As part of the group Champions for Earth, she brought 320 GB Olympians and Paralympians together as signatories in a letter to the Prime Minister, encouraging a green recovery to the pandemic.
Athletes have significant media exposure and we look up to them as role models. Melissa sees the importance of educating and supporting athletes to be a voice for the changes needed to mitigate climate change and she now delivers OLY Earth+, a project developed to build a positive environmental legacy for Team GB.
Timestamp for talk:
- 2:48 – Melissa speaks about her origins in rowing and setbacks
- 11:13 – Melissa talks about her degree and lockdown
- 16:02 – Melissa talks about how she joined athletes for climate change
- 24:10 – Melissa talks about athletes having a cultural influence
- 28:18 – Melisa talks about the positive steps that apps and small changes can make
- 30:52 – Melissa speaks about her inspiration and injuries
- 33:40 – Melissa talks future plans and steps already made
- 42:55 – Melissa talks about how climate positive action can be taken within athleticism
- 47:00 – Athletes doing what is impossible today & normal tomorrow
Any links discussed:
Champions of Earth | OlyEarth | Melissa Twitter | Oly Earth Twitter
