FROM TEXTBOOKS TO WETSUITS: SUNSHINE COAST SURFER, AND UNISC UNDERGRAD, GISELE SINCLAIR IS MAKING WAVES.
After reading this article it will come as no surprise as to why 18-year-old, Noosa local, Gisele Sinclair, is one of the newest undergraduates accepted into the University of the Sunshine Coasts High Performance Student Athlete (HPSA) program.
The physiotherapy major began surfing at the age of 9, where she immediately felt drawn to the sport and its culture. What quickly became a shared passion with her surfer father, has now evolved into a personal drive to compete and improve, “I really started enjoying the competitive side of surfing when I entered some WSL Qualifying Series and Junior Tour events. Being immersed in that surf culture and competing against so many talented women... pushed me to train harder.”
The Yaroomba Boardriders representative attended St Andrews Anglican College up until year 10, where she was a part of the advanced surf program, working with coach Graham Endersby (who is still her coach today). During her senior years of high school, Sinclair transferred to Peregian Beach on a sports scholarship which allowed her to balance her study commitments with the demands of competitive athleticism, “Although the college didn’t have a formal surfing program, they supported me by allowing time off to compete and helped me stay on track with my studies during those periods.”
Finishing 12th out of 63 Junior Women on the Australian Junior Tour in 2023 and then going on to graduate year 12 with the honour of being awarded Dux of her school, it’s suffice to say Gisele not just balanced both surfing and studies, she truly excelled in both.
With a passion for understanding the human body and a positive work experience placement at Peregian Springs Sports Injury & Physiotherapy Centre, Sinclair says she was happy to find out that UniSC, just a 30-minute drive from home, was offering her desired degree, a Bachelor of Physiotherapy (honours).
“Physical health issues can significantly affect mental well-being, and I’ve always wanted to work in this kind of profession to make a positive difference in people’s lives. I had multiple people tell me about how great the University is, from the supportive environment to the excellent facilities.”
Drawing inspiration from her peers, Gisele is determined to continue shining through tertiary education, as a UniSC HPSA, while simultaneously working towards achieving her goals as a World Surf League competitor. “I was inspired by my fellow surfing competitors, such as Isabella Caldow, who spoke highly of the High-Performance Sport Program and how the University supported their success in both academics and sport.”
The UniSC HPSA program is designed to allow dedicated athletes and students to concurrently pursue their sporting and academic goals, by maintaining an awareness of, and supporting, the extra-curricular demands on athletes. Gisele says she is honoured to be a part of such a program and won’t be taking this opportunity for granted, “The support is amazing, from academic advisors and peer mentors to career counselling and leadership opportunities. It’s great knowing I’ve got people backing me up to make sure I can succeed in both my sport and my degree. Access to all the high-performance resources, like the sports facilities is also a huge bonus.”
With a depth of insight beyond her years, Gisele reflects on how growing up on the Sunshine Coast has fostered not only her passion, but her resilient nature, within both surfing and school. “Being surrounded by talented surfers has always inspired me to keep improving and enjoying the sport. At the same time, the encouragement and support for pursuing education has motivated me to work hard and chase my goals. Having a community that values both passions has been instrumental in helping me grow and succeed.”
As Gisele embarks on her first year of university, while continuing to work towards her surfing dreams, we are excited to watch her incredible journey continue to unfold. It was an absolute pleasure gaining insight into this inspiring story, we wish Gisele all the best and have no doubt that she will continue to do the Sunshine Coast proud!
Follow @sunshinecoastsports and @giselesinclair_ to stay tuned!
