Athletic Ambitions: Stories of Tomorrow's Champions

Olivia Rook - alumni athlete

Olivia joined us when she was 16 and has since finished her A levels living with a host family, moved to the USA to study and play tennis on a scholarship, stayed in the USA for an additional year of tennis but without the support from her college and is now off to Loughborough university to do an MSc in Sports Physiology and continue to play tennis at the very top level.  This journey demonstrates that taking a few risks and making big decisions often pay off in the long term. I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed chatting with Olivia.  If you would like to find out more please visit www.cassandfriends.org Instagram @cassandfriends

Lottie Morris - athlete

Lottie is an inspiration to anyone who has a little bit of fear and anxiety around their sport. She has overcome a broken neck and the "twisties" to be able to compete at the top level, representing the GB team in tumbling.  In this interview, she talks openly about how she has been determined and resilient to keep having fun in a sport that she absolutely loves. Watch out for her at Cirque du Soleil!  If you would like to find out more please visit www.cassandfriends.org Instagram @cassandfriends

Chloe Sheppard - alumni athlete

Chloe joined CASS & Friends when she was 16 and had been selected for the GB performance academy programme for rowing.....she only just made the cut, but thank goodness she did! Less than two years later, she was in the GBR U19s team and off to compete in Paris. Since then, Chloe has gone to university in Washington, at one of the best rowing universities in the USA and in her freshman year was selected to go in the varsity boat.....quite an achievement to say the least!! In this podcast, she talks all about working with her CASS & Friends mentor on her mental skills and how she has transitioned from a runner and swimmer to a potential rowing Olympian. We hear all about the brutality of training at the elite level and how fantastic the facilities and the support systems are at her university.  She has so much talent and potential and is full of grit and determination to succeed. We are loving following her on her exciting journey. If you would like to find out more please visit www.cassandfriends.org Instagram @cassandfriends

Nia Suardiaz - Wingfoiler

Nia is an 18-year-old Spanish athlete competing at the highest level in a relatively new sport called Wingfoiling. She adores her sport and that shows in her results, winning all of the disciplines in the 2025 GWA World Cup Tour.  Nia has a fantastic website and Instagram profile, which has helped her to obtain some super sponsors - always important when competing at such a high level due to the travel and costs involved with competitions.  I hope you enjoy our conversation and are tempted to try it out for yourself if you get the opportunity! I would also urge our CASS & Friends athletes to check out her website!  If you would like to find out more please visit www.cassandfriends.org Instagram @cassandfriends

Max Hinds - Alumni athlete

In the latest podcast Max Hinds talks about his cycling career, making his way from the Junior World Championships to racing with the GB team and being part of the Olympic Development Squad. His mindset is so strong and he has a clear vision of where he wants to get to, setting himself lofty goals - this is his "why" and what drives the commitment to long, hard sessions when he is already near exhaustion. We delve into the marginal gains in cycling and how watts can be shaved from so many aspects of the sport, all leading to incremental improvements, efficiency and ultimately speed.  Max is a fantastic ambassador for CASS & Friends with very good advice for our younger athletes; to have fun and nail the basics - it's a long journey in elite sport, so he says it's good to remember to enjoy the ride. If you would like to find out more please visit www.cassandfriends.org Instagram @cassandfriends