Abi Harrigan (also from the Class of 2020) qualified for the Beijing Winter Olympics in 3 events (slopestyle, big air and halfpipe). Representing JCS in her first Interschools event at 8 years old she went on to compete in her first International Ski Federation event at 15. At only 19 years of age Abi has had 11 World Cup starts! Abi was known at school for her humble and positive attitude. A trait she clearly maintains, despite a fractured fibula keeping her from participating in two of her events she pushed through to compete in the Slopestyle. “My Olympic experience has been an interesting one, but I’m stoked to be here.” Students and staff watched on as Abi’s determination to compete ‘and have some fun’ despite the pain of injury taught us all a lesson in not giving up on your dream!
Abi’s mother, Julianne Harrigan, also recognises the role that JCS and Interschools have played in Abi’s success. “One of the highlights for Abi throughout her schooling was representing JCS in interschools at regional, state and national levels. She has been competing in those almost her entire school life and was usually with the same bunch of friends. It was always such a fun time regardless of results, for both the kids and the parents.
She always had the support of the school, helping her in her studies once she needed to miss more school for training and competing. Her year advisor Sasha Heath was absolutely amazing in checking in on Abi, ensuring she was up to date with all her learning tasks and was and is still her biggest supporter. We cannot thank her and the rest of the JCS community enough for their support. Paul Livissianos, Michael Kowalewski, Steve Cooper and almost every JCS staff member played a part in ensuring Abi's education never suffered while she chased those dreams.”
Abi, Josie and Adam are not the only Olympians to have attended Jindabyne Central School who has a proud history of supporting national and international skiing and snowboarding champions. Flexible learning options for students competing at elite levels is something the school stives to accommodate. Acting Secondary Principal Michael Kowalewski explains that “Over many years, the school has facilitated pathways for students to participate and achieve in Snowsports, from our own Snowsports programs which begin in Kindergarten and go through to Year 10, to participating in regional, state, and national Interschools,”
“JCS provides support for these athletes through flexibility in school attendance, provision of online and remote learning and additional individualised tutoring and we also support other elite athletes who enrol at the school during winter.”
It is not only academically and socially that the school can support students but also on the snow as many staff members hold qualifications themselves. Geography and PDHPE teacher, and JCS Snowsports Coordinator, Paul Livissianos (Mr L) was also at this year’s Winter Olympics as a moguls and aerial judge. Speaking of his judging approach, Paul highlighted his transferable skills: “While I don’t come from an athlete background, I’ve found my judging style seems to work. These are criteria-based sports, so as a teacher it correlates quite easily. It’s a little different to ex-athletes and coaches who are judges. They concentrate on technique – I’m judging it more like I would a year 12 essay: on the set criteria. It seems to have worked reasonably well, as I was offered a role as a judge for the Beijing Winter Olympics and then shortly after received an award from Snow Australia for official of the year.”
