Sarah Ulmer

Sarah Ulmer is a name that is synonymous with hard work, pure effort and highest achievements in sports. Sarah was recently appointed by WADA, along with athletes from around the globe, to be part of a committee of ambassadors representing the ideal of drug free sports. Sarah takes a moment to express her passion for the true spirit of sport and the responsibilities that athlete’s have in keeping their careers and sports drug free.

Q. Along with several other elite NZ athletes, you have become a role model and poster girl for Drug Free Sport NZ (DFSNZ) this year. What is your view on our athletes getting behind the education for anti-doping?

A. I think it’s fantastic! So often, we hear from Anti-doping offi cials, WADA and the National Sports Organisations, but not the athletes. I think what DFSNZ has done in the last few months by getting so many high-profi le athletes together to make a stance is great. It is great for the public to hear from these athletes, and great for young upcoming athletes to know that New Zealand’s best are totally against drugs in sport and they’re not afraid to speak out about it.

Q. Do you feel this role will impact positively on yourself and the other athletes involved?

A. I hope so! One of the most gutting things of drugs in sport is the doubt that is sometimes created in other standout sporting performances. The current climate of doping in sport - and unfortunately in my sport - can make other suspicious of clean athletes achieving great results. So I think having such a powerful group of NZ athletes not only promoting Drug Free Sport in NZ, but also showing their complete intolerance of those who cheat is one way of telling the public and other athletes that it is possible to achieve some pretty cool things drug-free.

Q. Earlier this year you were appointed to the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Athletes Committee. Explain your role as an Athlete Ambassador.

A. I’m one of 10 athletes from around the world, and from different sporting codes appointed to give WADA an athletes’ perspective on all the current issues surrounding drugs in sport. We offer viewpoints and act as a sounding board for topical issues of anti-doping. As the athletes are really the coal-face of sport, we are a pretty big voice in the work that WADA does in the fight against doping.

Q. What do you envisage are the key components to keeping sport drug free for the athletes of the future?

A. I think we need more current athletes being more vocal about anti-doping and about how they feel competing against drug cheats. If a doping “culture” exists in certain sports/countries, then we as clean athletes should work to create a far stronger anti-doping culture to oppose it. I think this is something that could have a huge effect. I also think there should be greater deterrents for drug-cheats. I would be in favour of having huge financial penalties, as well as longer suspensions (or bans for life) to really get the drug-takers thinking about what is at stake if they cheat. I think that other countries could adopt a campaign similar to DFSNZ.

Q. Where do you feel NZ athletes stand globally in terms of anti-doping?

A. I honestly believe that NZ is a world leader in terms of its anti-doping campaigns. With our positive sporting role models and being far away from a lot of international sporting action - we haven’t been exposed to high levels of doping in many sports. We don’t seem to have a doping culture for young athletes to be tempted to buy into. Which is just fantastic! Athletes begin at a young age in New Zealand, to participate in sport for the enjoyment and the true values that sport represents.

Q. Who is your role model in sport?

A. Any Kiwi athlete that’s excelling internationally is pretty motivating for me. Especially when you’re overseas and read or hear about New Zealanders beating up on their competitors! Two Kiwi athletes who stand out in particular are Rob Waddell and Susan Devoy. Susan inspired me when I started cycling as a young sprog with her attitude and give-it-death approach to competing and training...it was pretty cool for me as a young girl to have another female athlete at the top of the world and who was always giving it 110%. My attitude totraining and competing has in some part been modelled by watching Susan. Rob because after watching him win in the Sydney Olympics, in an event that was quite similar to mine. The example of total Kiwi support, training, equipment and coaching showed Brendon and I how we could achieve a great result at Athens.