August 15

Tatiana Grigorieva first won the hearts and minds of Australia on one of the great days in athletics history: 25 September 2000. Even sharing the field with so many great moments at the Sydney Olympics, it was impossible to ignore this newcomer who, dressed in green and gold, presented a silver medal performance in one of the most challenging of all athletic events – pole-vaulting.

 

While her feat impressed us, her story would inspire us. Formerly a 400-metre hurdler, she had failed to make the team in her native Russia. Undeterred, she started afresh – moving to a new nation, and taking up a new sport at age 21. Ignoring the derision of other athletes as she made her first attempts as a pole-vaulter, she continued to improve, becoming one of Australia’s best athletes, our only pole-vaulter to win an Olympic medal.

Though her athletics career would continue for a few more years (and include a Commonwealth Games gold medal), her post-athletics career has been no less intriguing. Recently she co-founded (with her partner, Plamen Milanov) one of Brisbane’s finest gelateria-cafés, Milany Caffe e Gelato. Once again, it has been a surprise success, as the one-time Olympic heroine has revealed her culinary talents, creating wonderful new ice-cream recipes. (She has long been a passionate cook.) Not so much the creations of an athlete, but the creations of someone who has always loved giving joy to others.

For her heart of 'Self-giving Oneness', Tatiana is a most deserving recipient of the World Harmony Run Torch-Bearer Award.