30 April 2024 / Rowing; Paris Paralympics
Thrive with Pride ambassador selected for Paris Pride House
After making her mark with the Australian Institute of Sport’s (AIS) Thrive with Pride program, para-rower Nikki Ayers has been selected as an ambassador for Pride House-Paris 2024.
Featured at all major international sporting events, Pride House is an inclusive venue that supports and celebrates the LGBTIQ+ community to create a welcoming and safe atmosphere for everyone.
Last week, Ayers was announced as one of the first four members joining the Pride House ambassador team for the 2024 Paris Games.
After suffering a severe rugby injury, Ayers turned to para-rowing and has achieved incredible success on the water while also working as a nurse and midwife. She debuted at the Tokyo Paralympic Games, coming fourth in the PR3 Mixed Coxed Four event, and is now competing alongside teammate Jed Altschwager in the PR3 Mixed Double Sculls, with the pair recently winning gold at the 2023 World Rowing Championships with a world record time.
Her decision to become a pride ambassador stems from her own experience of not having any LGBTIQ+ role models to look up to when she was younger.
“My journey has not always been positive and easy. As a child being very active, I had no high profile out sporting role models to look up to and know it was ok to be gay, play sport and be successful,” Ayers said.
“Being a Thrive with Pride (TwP) ambassador made me realise that I wanted to be a positive, out role model to inspire the sporting rainbow community and their allies.
“My hope is, in being a Paris 2024 Pride ambassador this goal can be achieved on a global scale and create rainbows across the world. I would not have been brave enough to embrace who I am and be the role model I want to be without being a part of the AIS TwP program.”
For the Paris Games, Pride House will have a home in the heart of the Olympic Village and run a program of sporting, cultural, educational and festive events along with pop-ups at several of the venues.
Outside of her ambassador work, Ayers and Altschwager remain firmly focused on the task ahead where they are gold medal favourites for their event after qualifying for Paris with their world championship win.
Find out more about Pride House-Paris 2024 ambassador team or the AIS Thrive with Pride program.
Article courtesy of Australian Institute of Sport
