JESSIE Bowdler’s eight years in competitive skipping has seen her pick up countless accolades, travel around the world and even feature in the opening ceremony of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games.
The 18-year-old New Beith university student has been a high profile member of the Mt Cotton Hot Shots for eight years and was recently ranked third in Australia for 18+ 30 second skipping speed.
Bowdler competed in the State Championships in March this year with her team placing second. She will compete at national championships at Sydney in June.
Competing overseas in countries such as China and Portugal have opened her eyes to a range of different styles.
“It is great to watch the people from teams in China and Portugal because they have very different techniques to us and we can learn new things by looking at them. Sometimes they put their tricks on social media which can help us try and learn,” Bowdler said.
“That is my favourite part of it, learning and seeing what they do.”
One of Bowlder’s international highlights was placing third in the World Jump Rope Championships at Portugal in 2016.
Having to balance education and work commitments with competitive skipping has been a chaotic challenge which Bowdler has overcome.
“I am on a pretty busy schedule. I train four days a week and train five times a weak if there is a major contest,” she said.
“I do two to three days a week at uni for my forensic science and criminology double degree and I work at an office in Acacia Ridge and recently got another job at the local pub.
“Balancing it is sometimes a big challenge, but I manage to pull it off.”
Bowdler said there are a range of health and social benefits which flow from skipping.
“As you get older it helps you keep your fitness up. This is especially important for me as I am looking to join the police force,” she said.
“For young people it is a good way to get into the community and show people what you have got.”
