Kylie Reed, the Olympic athlete from Australia, said the world must unite to counter threats in an interview for the Ukrainian World Congress as part of the #TheLastOlympics campaign.
“It’s a scary thing because it’s not just Ukraine that’s under fire. It’s the world. We have to come together,” Reed emphasizes.
The #TheLastOlympics campaign, featuring Reed, draws global attention to Ukraine’s battle for victory against Russian aggression. It also highlights to the world that authoritarian regimes are gaining strength, and the threat to free democratic nations is increasing. If we do not support Ukraine today, this could be the last Olympics and the Olympic flame might be overshadowed by the flames of the next world war.
Passion for one’s work, perseverance, and determination are key to victory, says Reed. “Passion comes first. That’s where it all starts … With the combination of all three, I think you can achieve pretty much anything,” adds the athlete.
Kylie Reed is a renowned Australian athlete who competed in the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin. Reed began her sports career as a track and field athlete, focusing on sprinting and long jump, and became the Australian national champion in these events in 2000. However, an injury hindered her path to Olympic success.
The athlete triumphed at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, where she competed as a brakeman in bobsleigh.
“Kylie, a native of Perth, Western Australia, a state that never sees snow, participated in the Winter Olympic Games in Turin in 2006 in bobsleigh. Her unique journey, training for the Summer Olympics and having to pivot due to an injury, is a testament to her strong ‘Will to Win’ that helped her adapt to a new winter sport and achieve her Olympic aspirations,” wrote Nataliya Poshyvaylo-Towler, UWC Vice President for Oceania and Asia.
After the Olympics, Reed retired from her sports career. Her experience and dedication to the sport continue to inspire many young athletes.
