Words by Monique Quirk  |    Photos by Natalie Wong and Ryan Jones

Moving states, adapting to remote coaching and changes, then overcoming disappointment and finding confidence again. Here is a glimpse into the life of Monique as she chases her Olympic dream.

Hey I’m Monique Quirk. Funny enough there’s been times where people have mispronounced my name as Monique Quick! And to some I’m known as Greg Quirk’s daughter. I am a born Taurus baby turning 21 this year!

They say athletics runs in my genes! I started athletics from the very beginning (tiny tots). I competed under Emu Plains Little Athletics for 10 years. For years like most kids, I had other sporting commitments (dancing, touch football, netball and swimming). At one point, I had to make a decision between touch football or athletics and I ended up choosing athletics!

However, solely basing it on athletics, I was a cross-country runner followed then by 1500m and 800m until I was 16 I came third in the 400m at State Little Athletics, and that’s where I decided to get my first ever coach based in the Blue Mountains. Although, from the age of 17, I made the decision to drop the 400’s and focus predominantly on the 100m and 200m and I haven't looked back.

The Move to Queensland

I was recently let go by my other coach, following 2021 Nationals and only a month ago I recently made the move up North to Queensland with my new coach Mark Ladbrook and squad Athletic4life! I currently have based myself in training with some of the best athletes in Australia. However, I am currently still an NSW based athlete, and only this year made the change of clubs with Illawong Revesby Workers.

At the NSW Open Champs

100m

I was very nervous heading into my first event of the weekend, I was back at my home track and I had “defending champion” printed on my bib. In the heats, I just wanted to feel the racing feeling again, I had minor ques to focus on but I just did what I needed to do. Minus the headwind across all of the heats being quite dominant, I felt pretty comfortable. I wasn’t too fussed with the overall time following the heat, as I did pull up with at least 30m to go.

The semis, it was pretty matched to the feeling I had in the heats prior. However, prior to NSW State Champs, my races haven’t quite been executed, although consistent with times it isn’t that standard I wanted to be sitting at, so I took it in my stride to execute a race from the beginning which means actually getting my start for once! With a little left in the tank and switching off with 10m to go, I gained the much-needed belief and confidence in myself again. 

In the final, I placed equal first. I have to learn how to dip! 

200m

With 3 rounds of 100m’s under my belt, the most rounds I have done since the season began, and 200m being my preferred event I was excited but nervous heading into the event on Sunday. Following a week from Adelaide invitational, to say I was disappointed about both races is an understatement, so I wanted to push that aside and have a strong hit out. Much like the 100m, I did what I needed to in the heats to get me through the final. 

Hit with lane 9 in the final and a strong field lined up behind me I had to just put my head down and absolutely floor it around the bend. Without seeing anyone for the majority of the race I felt confident in myself this was going to be a good time coming home strong in the last 30m. The time was a relief, the second-fastest ever time I’ve run and a season’s best. I walked away with my head held high. 

This competition is a stepping stone towards nationals, as the layout of both the 100m and 200m is similar. 

Both physically and mentally I have seen myself grow as an individual first into the athlete I want to become. It helps when I train alongside two remarkable women that have made their mark in the sport ( Maddie Coates and Ella Connolly).

This sport has its high and its low but my family has been my biggest supporters through it all! They’ll always be sitting in the stands no matter the destination. However over the past year, I have so many amazing friends, an amazing squad and a coach that made the tough 6 months of lockdown in NSW bearable. After 8 months of remote coaching following Nationals and a long 12 months of change, I am proud of how far I’ve come. 

I am thankful for the opportunities this sport has given me so far. This year, I am aiming high for the Commonwealth Games and World Champs, with a lot of smaller goals in between. Although, the dream is to make the 2024 Paris Olympics not only for myself but to do it alongside my younger brother (swimmer) which is so exciting to look forward to.

And these quirks are what makes me Monique Quirk.