Taliqua Clancy, an accomplished beach volleyball player, made history as the first Indigenous Australian to compete in Olympic volleyball. She won a silver medal at the 2020 Games alongside partner Mariafe Artacho del Solar and is now competing on the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour. Recently, she posted a photo of herself spiking the ball on Instagram, captioned, “Back on tour 😃 with @georgia_johnson. 7th Place at Haikou Challenger 🇨🇳.” From her dedication to wellness to her role as a trailblazer, Clancy embodies excellence both on and off the court.
1. She’s Consistent
Clancy shared some of her wellness secrets in an interview with Body + Soul. When it comes to fitness, she makes sure to be consistent. Especially in the offseasons. “It gets a bit harder [to train] once we’re on the road, so that maintenance and rehab we have in the preseason is super important. I think winter is actually the most important time to be active. Not just for your physical goals, but for your mental health.”
2. She Wants To Be A Role Model
Clancy wants to be a role model for her community. She opened up about being an Indigenous athlete to Body + Soul. “Competing in my first Olympics, I really had that understanding of how important it was for my community. Being able to have that representation of our mob doing well is just so important. And if that leads [young Indigenous Australians] into sport, that’s amazing. But if it just helps them excel in whatever they choose to do with their life, that’s also amazing.”
3. She Eats A Balanced Diet
Clancy talked about her diet in her Body + Soul interview. She says that she is a big believer in balance. “If you want to have that winter snack that makes you feel cosy, [go ahead]. But it’s about finding balance. It’s important to have good, healthy proteins, so [reach for] protein powders and protein snacks. [And] I definitely take time to just relax. It’s OK to enjoy a wine with dinner.”
4. She Works Out With Others
Since Clancy plays beach volleyball, she’s used to working out with someone else. She tells Body + Soul that she likes to hit the gym with friends. “I think it’s good to have somebody to help with your accountability. It can help with those tough days. I’ve always been more drawn to team sports because I enjoy working out with somebody else.”
5. She Hikes
Clancy shared this photo on Instagram of herself hiking in Switzerland. According to Piedmont, hiking has a lot of health benefits. “Going up and down hills gets the heart pumping, creating a great cardio workout. Like most cardio exercises, hiking helps reduce your risk of heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and even some cancers.”