Written by Ella Menigoz
Receiving a Charles Sturt Sports & Blues Award this year was a huge honour. It is such a well-recognised and prestigious award, so I was incredibly grateful to have my achievements in cross-country mountain biking acknowledged by the university.
I have been racing mountain bikes for five years and currently compete at an international level. This year has been a particularly exciting one for me. In March, I finished second in both the XCC and XCO at the Australian National Championships in Mt Buller, as well as second at the Oceania Championships in Brisbane. I was also selected to be part of the AusCycling European trip, which gave me the opportunity to race at the U23 UCI Cross-Country World Cup in Nové Město na Moravě in the Czech Republic.
The financial support that came with the Sports & Blues Award played an important role in making that European racing campaign possible. International racing comes with significant costs, including flights, accommodation, travel, race entries, food and equipment, as well as the AusCycling trip levy. Having additional support from Charles Sturt helped reduce that financial burden and allowed me to focus more of my energy on training, racing, and making the most of the opportunity rather than worrying as much about the costs involved.
The award also helped me feel more connected to Charles Sturt. As an online student, it can sometimes be harder to feel part of the wider university community, so having my sporting commitments recognised made me feel that what I was achieving outside of my studies was valued as well.
Balancing university with training and international competition can definitely be difficult at times, but the flexibility Charles Sturt provides through the Elite Athlete and Performer Program has made a big difference. I am currently living and training in Whistler, Canada, and I am still able to continue my studies from the other side of the world. That flexibility means I am not forced to choose between pursuing my sporting goals and continuing my education.
I think awards like Sports and Blues are important because they make student-athletes, volunteers, leaders, and clubs feel seen and recognised. They also give students the chance to hear the stories of others, learn from them, and have something to strive towards.
For anyone considering nominating themselves or someone else, I would absolutely encourage you to do it. Sporting achievements involve years of work and dedication behind the scenes, and having that commitment recognised and celebrated across the university and wider community is really something special.
Nominations for the 2026 Sports and Blues Awards open Wednesday 9 September.
Charlie blog is a SSAF initiative.
