WOMEN WHO INSPIRE US // Superstar Athlete Ruby Meehan
Everyone meet Ruby Meehan, our latest addition to the JOLYN family! We are stoked to finally introduce you to this talented woman! Ruby competes in Surf Lifesaving and races for BMD Northcliffe. As the winner of the 2023 Next Gen, Ruby has qualified for the 2023/24 Nutri-Grain series and has recently been selected to be a part of the 2023 Australian Pathways team. Ruby's focus is the iron woman series, however loves ski paddling the most!
Having graduated high school last year, Ruby is now studying Biomedical Science at Bond University in hopes to pursue a career in medicine. To balance and help achieve her sport and academic goals, Ruby says downtime with friends and family is so important in order to achieve that work - life balance!
Through her simultaneous academic and sporting journey Ruby hopes to inspire up and coming athletes to be the best version of themselves, not only within the sport but outside also.
1. What's the biggest challenge you've faced as an athlete and how did you overcome it?
I love studying and training so much and it took me awhile to find a balance between study and training without burning out. I was constantly overtired or getting sick, but I learnt to listen to my body and now I know when I need to rest and reset so I can get the most out of everything I do.
2. What attracted you to the sport in the beginning?
I didn’t grow up near the beach at all and when I moved to the Gold Coast, I wasn’t a massive fan of the ocean, but I started nippers for safety reasons etc. It took me a while to get into it but when I moved to Currumbin I really enjoyed Sunday nippers and started to fall in love with the sport.
3. What's your favourite thing about being an iron woman/athlete?
The lifestyle - I enjoy pushing myself at training every day and being the best version of me in such an amazing place. In this sport we are so lucky to train at the beach and we are so blessed by the weather on the Gold Coast. I also love the culture of our sport and the social aspect. I train with an amazing group of girls, and I’ve made so many friends from all around Australia.
4. What upcoming competitions are you currently working towards & what's your long-term goal in the sport?
I qualified for the Nutri-Grain Iron Series at the beginning of the year through Next Gen, so I’ve been training so hard for that. My ultimate goal is to re-qualify so I can continue to race in the Nutri-Grain series for the next few years.
5. What is your number one piece of advice you would give to your younger self/female athletes?
Make sure you have balance in life, whether it's work or study or another hobby. It’s healthy and it allows you to enjoy and appreciate training as an escape.
Short questions/fun facts about you
1. Fave food?
Pasta
2. Fave pair of JOLYNs you own?
My Red Perry Fixed-Back Onesie
3. Fave country you have visited and why?
I have travelled all over Australia and New Zealand, but I can’t wait to go to Europe.
4. One thing on your bucket list?
Travel!
5. What is a quote you live by?
“Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get” - Forest Gump
To keep up to date with Ruby, be sure to follow her on the socials for all things surf, sport and fun!
IG: @rubymeehann
