Jade Smith, a 30-year-old athlete originally from Birchip, is set to represent Australia in her first international wrestling competition – the South East Asian Championships this May.

What began as an after-work hobby has transformed into a life-changing journey of grit, growth, and gold.

Three years ago, Jade was working in marketing and looking for something new to sink her teeth into. She joined a local gym to build healthy habits and soon found herself drawn to wrestling.

Since then, Jade has trained consistently, earning top results at local competitions including Super Series 2023 and 2024, Tri-State Cup 2024 and 2025, and receiving an invite to the Oceania Championships in 2025. With few women competing in wrestling in Australia, her ambition has led her to the international stage.

Jade is currently seeking local sponsors to help fund her journey, as unlike many other countries, Australian wrestlers must fully self-fund their international competition costs. This includes the mandatory Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) training camp, official Australian team uniform, flights, accommodation, and entry fees. She’s calling on individuals and businesses in the Buloke region to get behind her and help make this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity possible.

Those who sponsor Jade will be acknowledged on her social media and be part of a story that’s only just getting started.

If you’d like to sponsor Jade’s journey or follow along as she trains for the biggest competition of her life, you can get in touch via email hello@hotjam.com.au or follow her on Instagram @jaaaaade.

We wish Jade the very best as she proudly represents both the Buloke Shire and Australia on the international stage.

This article appeared in The Buloke Times, 25 April 2025.