Aspley gymnast India Colombi has been named one of 12 athletes selected for the inaugural Aussie Athlete Fund – Team Brisbane Scholarship, supporting her journey to the Brisbane 2032 Games.
The sponsorship is a partnership between the Aussie Athlete Fund, founded by five-time Olympian Natalie Cook OAM OLY, and Brisbane City Council. It provides successful applicants with up to $10,000 to help cover the costs of competing at an elite level.
India said she was grateful to have been chosen for one of the inaugural Team Brisbane scholarships.
“Being selected felt like recognition not only of where I am now, but also of the years of hard work, sacrifices and challenges that have gone into pursuing this sport,” India said.
The former Wavell State High School student began gymnastics at five.
“From the beginning, I loved the feeling of being able to fly, flip and challenge myself,” she said. “As I progressed through the sport, I became inspired by what was possible through hard work and dedication. That passion eventually grew into the goal of representing Australia and seeing how far I could take my potential.”
Scholarship Support for Rising Athletes
Now training within a high-performance program, India’s commitment to gymnastics reaches up to 30 hours each week while also balancing university studies in International Studies and Languages.
She said while Brisbane 2032 had the potential to inspire an entire generation of athletes, talent alone was never enough.
“Financial barriers can make it difficult for athletes to access opportunities that are critical to their development,” she said.
“Many people don’t realise that gymnastics is largely self-funded. Some of the biggest expenses include travel and accommodation for competitions and training camps, coaching costs, physiotherapy (required in high-performance sport), equipment (including grips and strapping) and competition-related expenses.
“This scholarship will help reduce some of those financial pressures and allow me to focus more fully on my development as an athlete. Just as importantly, it provides access to mentorship, education and connections that will help me both in sport and beyond.
“Through these first few months of being part of the Aussie Athlete Fund, I have already learned so much from Aussie Olympian Nat Cook about the real struggles and story of pure grit, perseverance and dedication it takes to become a star/Olympian.”
With Brisbane 2032 a long-term goal, India said her immediate focus was progressing through the senior international pathway, securing international opportunities and representing Australia at major events.
“Nothing quite matches the feeling this sport gives me – I am forever grateful to be able to say that; to have something that important to me in my life that continues to make me strive to be better,” she said.
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