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It is a rare thing to dream a life goal at aged 10, and then to go on and live it. But Chloe Dalton did exactly that, winning an Olympic gold medal in Rugby 7’s just as her younger self had dreamed. She has since gone on to play elite basketball as well, and now AFLW. But beyond her on-field success, Chloe’s passion is promoting sport in girls and women, which is the basis of her hugely popular platform, The Female Athlete Project. Join this inspiring chat as Jo and Mimi sit down with a woman who has found her true purpose.
Resources:
Learn more about The Original Nine
Read up about The Female Athlete Project
About Chloe Dalton
Chloe Dalton is a three-code elite athlete, having participated at the top level in not only AFLW but Basketball and Rugby 7’s. The 30-year-old grew up in Sydney and was part of the gold-medal winning Rugby 7s team at the Rio Olympics in 2016 before turning her sights to AFLW and playing 16 games for Carlton across 2019 and 2020.
She was runner-up in Carlton’s best and fairest in 2020 before sitting out season 2021 to focus on the Tokyo Olympics.
Keen to return to the AFLW, Dalton signed with the Giants in 2022. The star athlete is also known for off-field work in the sporting landscape, starting the Female Athlete Project. She has also written a book, Girls Don’t Play Sport, which shines a light on the interlinked quagmires of respect, opportunity, representation and pay that continue to stall the progress of women’s teams.
Find the moment you're seeking
2:04 Welcome one of Australia’s rare triple sport elite athletes, Chloe Dalton
3:12 “I want my very own Olympic gold medal.” Cathy Freeman inspired us all, but with Chloe’s drive, inspiration led to action.
6:20 Growing up tough with older brothers and the competitiveness that led to Chloe’s mouth being washed out with soap.
8:22 Staring up at a poster of Micheal Jordan and marking high jump successes on the wall; the ways a young Chloe Dalton surrounded herself with inspiration.
10:19 A reminder to stop and take in the beauties of the world- Chloe’s beautiful appreciation of her mother and grandma.
12:12 “I couldn’t find out really anything about them” -Growing up with limited visibility of her female idols.
14:36 What is it about Chloe that makes her the kind person to follow her dreams no matter how big?
16:52 Allowing grace and acceptance through injuries and anxiety.
22:42 “I get to carry on what they have done”- Acknowledging the trailblazing women who came before Chloe and the passing down of boots that pay tribute to them.
26:30 “I was actually told by the doctors in that hospital, this shouldn’t have happened because girls like you shouldn’t be playing sports like this.”- Chloe speaks to the discrimination she’s experienced and how that’s shaped her mission today.
29:07 The origin, drive and impact of Chloe’s platform, The Female Athlete Project.
33:45 Chloe’s next goals; keeping girls in sport, an AFLW premiership and making changes at the elite level.
37:56 Dealing with Internet trolls and the challenges of monitoring social media.
40:00 Jo brings the Origin Story of a Well-Known Thing- The Virginia Slims Series tennis tournament and the tennis we know today.
46:08 “Oh, you’re not going to let a girl beat you, are you?” Breaking down harmful language at the grassroots level.
Meet Jo
Jo Stanley is Founder and CEO at Broad Radio – radio for women, by women. Comedian, author, MC, speaker. Co-host of The House of Wellness TV and Radio. Hope messenger. Equality warrior. Mother, wife, awesome friend.
Broad Radio Insta • Broad Generation Insta • Broad Radio Web
Say hi to Mimi
Mimi is the Author of House of Kwa, Journalist, MC, Facilitator, Keynote, Mum of four, studying to become a mindfulness mediation teacher, also did architecture at university and didn’t become an architect. Quite a good friend.
BUY House of Kwa • Mimi Kwa Web