Exclusive: Eleanor Patterson Stars in NSWIS Lights Up

NSWIS Lights Up is the soon to be released documentary series which provides meaningful insights into the triumphs, trials, and tribulations that have shaped the inspirational stories of 20 ‘world’s best’ New South Wales Institute of Sport athletes.

The documentary series details the athlete’s rise from the grass roots junior sporting competitions, the importance of their support base, the origins of the inner determination that drove their pursuit of excellence, the thrill of competing at – and, in many cases, conquering – global contests, plus the times when they’ve had to delve into a reservoir of resilience, grit and determination to overcome disappointments and adversity.

The series, each athlete features in a total of five episodes that run for up to three minutes, tap into the obvious strength and skill the athletes display whenever they compete, but, through their own words, these NSWIS athletes also lay bare the vulnerabilities and self-doubts they’ve needed to scale.

Among the NSWIS Olympic Medallists and World Champions who’ll feature in the series are Eleanor Patterson (athletics), Noemie Fox (canoe slalom), Brandon Starc (athletics), Melissa Wu (diving), Tilly Kearns and Bronte Halligan (Water Polo), Shane Rose (equestrian), Jono Milne (Para archery), Sarah Carli (athletics), Tim Hodge (Para swimming), and Sam Fricker (diving).

Featured below, an exclusive preview of the Eleanor Patterson documentary.

NSWIS Manager, Marketing and Communications, Frances Cordaro, said NSWIS Lights Up allows viewers to form an understanding of the characteristics – and the courage – that’s allowed these athletes to become champions.

“Each athlete has shared incredible details about their life and sporting career,” said Cordaro.  “Every episode unveils another layer of their character.

“I have no doubt these documentaries will inspire and educate young athletes, but, just as importantly, I’m confident viewers will finish the series wanting to support the athletes through their careers because they’ll feel as though they know them.”

The Institute’s Senior Coordinator, Media and Communications, Daniel Lane, who conducted the interviews and produced the documentaries, said it was hard not to be moved by the stories.

“Rather than using their appearances on the NSWIS Lights Up series to re-enforce the image many of us have of them as being elite athletes . . . winners . . . unflinching. . . resilient . . . each athlete has dug deep to also speak frankly about their tough times, their challenges.

“They’ve put a very human face to their story. Through their voices we learn there’s no courage without vulnerability, and that, sometimes, just pushing on in an event when your mind is begging you to ‘just lay down’ is a great victory. ”