Tamara Maher (current Gymnastics NZ AUT Intern) started in the world of Gymnastics at the very young age of 18 months old taking part in play gym classes. She moved on to gym for all classes and although family circumstance meant she stopped gymnastics at the age of 7, her love for the sport stayed with her.
At 16 Tamara re–entered the sport on her own and was instantly asked by her Club to be a part of the CIT program (XTND) kick-starting her coaching journey. She worked part-time at the Club running birthday parties, assisting with recreational and competitive gymnastics as well as doing her own gymnastics. Tamara gradually progressed to assistant head coach and then on to head recreational coach for the Wanganui Boys and Girls Gym Club (WBGGC).
Through WBGGC Club she applied for and received a scholarship to attend Ollerup in Denmark for a year. Tamara still remembers what an amazing experience doing gymnastics in another country was and followed up her trip by coaching gymnastics at a camp in America. Loving her time overseas Tamara continued her adventure in Canada where she taught beginners through to elites during the ski season both on the snow and in the gym to refine their tricks for the slope.
On arrival home she started a degree in Sport and Recreation majoring in Management and Coaching at AUT. Tamara is now in her final year of university where they are required to complete a placement relating to their degree. This has led to her role at Gymnastics NZ as a volunteer intern until the end of 2017.
To support her in her personal and professional career Tamara was invited to become a Gymnastics NZ presenter and she recently completed the Presenter Training Course. “It was a great weekend with an amazing group of people and now some excellent Gymnastics NZ presenters!”
Tamara is a great example where involvement in the XTND Programme can take you, from a CIT (XTND) coach then using this as her platform for life, striving for excellence, finding leadership opportunities both in New Zealand and Overseas. Welcome home, we are thrilled to have you working with us and look forward to watching your career in sport develop.
Welcome home Tamara. We are thrilled to have you working with us and look forward to watching your continual development as you create your career in sport.