How „big sister” Brittany Propan helps Chloe Cowell go to the Games

Brittany Propan And Chloe Cowell Look at each other before bursting into laughter.

The question is whether it was presented Diver And the Olympic silver medalist is always A Skateboard.

„Absolutely not,” says the 28-year-old firmly. “No, I was involved in serious sports for 15 years. No, I don’t want to.

„Maybe this trip?” Cowell asks with a wicked grin between laughs.

„Maybe after Paris,” agrees Proben, smiling back as she gives way. „We’ll see after Paris.”

I was sitting on the last stage for a joint interview with Olympics.com Olympic Qualifiers In Budapest, it’s hard not to be charmed by Proban and Cowell.

The pair first met three years ago, with Proban as a chaperone following new safety measures designed to support young skaters on the Skate Australia team through elite sport and competitive environments.

Since then, the two have become inseparable. „I’m like a big sister,” says Proban.

Now a retired athlete, it’s easy to see why Proben is a perfect fit for the position. The Queenslander’s diving career began when she was 11 years old and five short years later, she was the youngest athlete on the Australian Olympic team. London 2012 When she brought home the silver in the 10m platform.

The similarities between Cowell, who first traveled abroad for an international skating competition at age 12 and is now competing in her first Olympic Games at age 14, are striking.

„Skate Australia thought, because of my background – I went to the Olympics as a minor myself – it would be useful to have that support because I know a little bit about high performance. So it’s my duty to look after the kids and have a safe place for them,” Proben outlines his work.

„We didn’t necessarily have that when I was a minor. So I think it’s amazing to have that support. When I was young, I didn’t have my parents to travel with; it was just my coaches. So I think it’s amazing what they’re trying to do. Young Having those types of people around the athletes keeps them grounded, but they have to have a safe person to feel comfortable in that environment, because the Olympic Games is like a massive environment. It’s not just for skate, it’s for everyone.

„So, having a person that they feel like they can come through if they’re more in that environment, I think that’s a big advantage for all young athletes.”