The women’s sprint field at this year’s Tasmanian Christmas Carnivals is full of surprises.
The quality is no surprise, with some of the country’s top Carnival performers signed on, but their paths to athletic stardom are often a little unexpected.
Jade (Bubbles) Johnston-Mitrevska is just one of the surprises, having spent most of her ‘athletic’ life as a ballet dancer!
If there’s any doubt that ballet dancers are in fact top athletes, Jade is proof that the discipline is a solid foundation for athletes from a variety of other athletic pursuits. With her explosive start, Jade became the NSW State Champion over 60 metres this year before going on to clock a new 100m personal best of 11.67 on the same day, just .5 of a second below the current 100 Australian record set by Olympian Tori Lewis earlier this year.
“I love the Tassie Carnivals” she said. “The atmosphere is fantastic and one of my most memorable moments in the sport was getting the opportunity to line up at last year’s Burnie back markers invitational race, alongside my partner Joshua Azzopardi. It was a lot of fun and opened up some light competition between the two of us. We had a good laugh and it is super cool to look back on!!”
The sport has delivered some unexpected opportunities for Jade, being scouted to model for an ASICS campaign. “ It was a great experience and to be able to say I modelled that I have been scouted for a big name brand is pretty cool!”
Jade started as a triple and long jumper before going to full time sprinting.
Despite some injury after the NSW Championships Jade is back on track and expecting to perform well in Devonport and Burnie… and hoping to get another crack as Josh in the backmarkers handicap.
'Bubbles' will be running at Devonport and Burnie. If you're there you'll be able to ask her where the nickname came from and why.
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