At the Sports & Cultural Awards Dinner, ex-WGC student Jackie Kiddle was inducted into the WGC Sports Hall of Fame.

Jackie started at Wellington Girls' College in 2008.  She started rowing in Year 9 after her father encouraged her to participate.  She was a keen sportswoman, playing six other sports in her first year and by Year 13 she was top rower and a top hockey player.  Jackie was a Hodgkins veteran as well as taking on the role of Head of Sport in Year 13.  In her last year at school she made the NZ Under-21 team and from there she knew she wanted to further pursue her rowing career by trialling for the regional team.

Jackie attended the University of Waikato where she studied a Bachelor of Science.  She managed to balance her university work and high-performance lifestyle by being organised, practical and efficient.  Jackie said, "It's not always easy.  Everyone's priorities are different so there are always teachers or lecturers that don't quite understand what or why you do what you do, but most of the time the people you work with want to support you."

This year she was selected in the NZ Lightweight Double and has had some fantastic results including a gold medal at the World Rowing Championships in Australia.  She said that to be able to come out on top after that was an amazing feeling.  Jackie's next goal is to win Gold at the Tokyo Olympics.  She knows it's ambitious but she wants to give it a good shot.

Jackie continues to stay involved with Wellington Girls' College students by regularly supporting Wellington Girls' College at the Maadi Rowing Regatta.  She's also talked to Year 9 Media Studies classes about her involvement over the past years and achievements.  By doing this, Jackie has inspired and supported young WGC girls to push harder in sports and in life as well as embodying a good role model that we, as students, need.

With Jackie's achievements, efforts and energy that she continues to put in over the years, we are so honoured to induct her into our Sports Hall of Fame this year.