UPDATE: Chloe Esposito was in Armidale on Thursday where she visited New England Girls School to speak about achieving dreams.
On Thursday morning she caught up with Fairfax Media over coffee where she spoke about women in sport.
Stars align to honour the region’s best athletes
Rio gold medalist Chloe Esposito will be the special guest of honour when the region’s top athletes are honoured at the annual New England Sports Awards on Thursday.
The annual event will see the district’s most outstanding sports stars and dominant teams rewarded for their on-field efforts over the last year.
Esposito competes in the modern pentathlon, a sport where an athlete competes in a variety of events with the aim at being best overall.
The modern pentathlon comprises of fencing, swimming, show jumping, pistol shooting and a cross country run.
Esposito, along with brother Max, compete for Australia in the sport.
The modern pentathlon runs in their family with father and coach Daniel also having represented in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.
Her gold medal at the Rio Olympic Games was the first for Australia in the modern pentathlon and Esposito said the win was a long time coming.
"I just broke down in tears but it was so nice because it taken 11 years to get this medal,” she said.
"It was my dream from a young age.
"Just having my family there, right on the sidelines with me and they have seen everything, the highs and the real lows as well.
"It was the best thing ever.”
With the five different sports making up the pentathlon, plenty of time is spent training.
Esposito spends six days a week training, with four or five sessions each day to keep in competition-shape.
She said training is a full-time job but mixing up her sessions keeps it interesting.
"That is why I love it because it is so different and you are not training for one thing,” she said.
"It is hard but it is really worth it. It is a lot of fun though because doing pentathlon, once you get to a certain level you get to travel all around the world.
"It is hard work but you do have a lot of fun along the way.”
Esposito’s visit to Armidale will include trips to local schools and sporting clubs.
She hoped she would be able to spark some interest in her sport and inspire people to give it a go during her time here.
"It is not that popular in Australia so it would be nice to have a few more people doing pentathlon,” she said.
"I am really excited to go to Armidale, I have never been before.”
The New England Sports Awards will be held at the Armidale City Bowling Club at 6.30pm on November 24.
Tickets can be purchased from 2AD FM 100.3 Reception at 123 Rusden Street from November 3 rd or at the door on the night.
Ellen Dunger
Originally from the Blue Mountains, I spent my teenage years in the Riverina at boarding school before moving to Bathurst in 2012 to complete Bachelor of Sport Studies/ Bachelor of Communications (journalism) at Charles Sturt University. I started my career at The Blayney Chronicle in May 2015 and worked casually, one day a week at the Central Western Daily later on that year. I moved to Armidale in March 2016 to take on the role as the Northern Tablelands' sports journalist. Played a variety of sports in my lifetime including touch football, league tag, gymnastics, dance, cross country running and equestrian. Always happy to hear news and tips. www.facebook.com/ellendungerjournalist/
Originally from the Blue Mountains, I spent my teenage years in the Riverina at boarding school before moving to Bathurst in 2012 to complete Bachelor of Sport Studies/ Bachelor of Communications (journalism) at Charles Sturt University. I started my career at The Blayney Chronicle in May 2015 and worked casually, one day a week at the Central Western Daily later on that year. I moved to Armidale in March 2016 to take on the role as the Northern Tablelands' sports journalist. Played a variety of sports in my lifetime including touch football, league tag, gymnastics, dance, cross country running and equestrian. Always happy to hear news and tips. www.facebook.com/ellendungerjournalist/
