Jemima Montag Australia 2009 Children's Ambassador / JA 2009 Olympian
1. Please introduce yourself briefly. Jemima Montag – is an Olympian and public health medical student who, in her free time, loves cooking, playing the piano and hiking/camping in the beautiful Australian landscape. My name is Jemima Montag – I am an Olympian and a medical student with a special interest in public health. In my spare time I love cooking, playing the piano, and hiking or camping in the beautiful Australian landscape.
2. What are your memories of Fukuoka when you participated in APCC as a Junior Ambassador? I was given the wonderful opportunity to become an APCC Junior Ambassador in 2009. During the first week, the Australian group stayed with the Sri Lankan Junior Ambassadors in a bunk bed room and we quickly became friends. We learned how to fold origami cranes together, how to use chopsticks and ate rice with lots of soy sauce. We also had a sports meet and I remember showing off my race walking skills to the other Junior Ambassadors. During the second week, I was unable to do a homestay due to the H1N1 influenza, but I was able to spend the day with my host family. My host father took me to an impressive museum in Fukuoka. For dinner, I ate delicious Japanese food with my host family, including the “father” and “grandmother”. I had the wonderful opportunity to be a Junior Ambassador at the APCC in 2009. During our first week the Australian girls shared a bunk room with the Sri Lankan girls and we quickly became friends. We learned how to fold origami cranes and to use chopsticks for the delicious sticky rice which I enjoyed with lots of soy sauce. There was an amazing sports day where I remember showing the other Jas my racewalking skills. In the second week, we couldn't stay with our host families because of the Swine Flu – but we did get to spend the daytime with them. My host father took me to some impressive museums in Fukuoka, and we had a delicious Japanese dinner with their otousan and obaasan.
3.What made you choose to be a professional athlete? As a child, I didn't feel any pressure to become a professional athlete, but instead just enjoyed playing sports and made friends there. After graduating from high school, I traveled to Japan with my family. My sister told me that the Olympics would be held in Tokyo in four years, and that it would be amazing if I could participate and come back to Japan with my family! Although that goal seemed impossible and scary, I love the resilience, teamwork, and dedication that come with working towards something. As a child, I focused on just enjoying sport and making friends without too much pressure to become a professional. Once I finished high school, my family and I were on a holiday in Japan. My sister pointed out that in 4 years' time, the Olympic Whilst Games would be in Tokyo, and that it would be amazing if I participated so that the family could return to Japan. This goal seemed impossible and scary, I loved the feeling of working towards something and developing the skills of resilience, teamwork, and dedication along the way.
4.Do you think your experience at APCC had any impact on your life afterwards? The biggest impact of APCC on my life is that I have become more open-minded. It is wonderful that young people, who have different lives and beliefs, but also have similarities, can come together from all over the world and interact as child ambassadors. At that time, we exchanged business cards as child ambassadors. 12 years later, I still keep in touch with the Sri Lankan woman who was my roommate in Fukuoka. A few weeks ago, we had a cooking lesson on Zoom, and she taught me how to make a traditional Sri Lankan dinner. I think this is the power of APCC. The most significant impact of the APCC for me was becoming more open-minded. It was amazing at such a young age to interact with Junior Ambassadors from all over the world – people who lead different lives, with different beliefs, and some similarities. We all exchanged business cards at the time and 12 years later I am still in touch with the Sri Lankan women. I shared a room with them in Fukuoka. A few weeks ago, we had a Zoom call cooking lesson where they showed me how to make some traditional Sri Lankan dinner recipes. This is the power of the APCC for me.
5. APCC officials and Japanese volunteers also cheered for you at the Tokyo Olympics! Could you please tell us what your Olympic experience was like? The Tokyo Olympics was a dream that finally came true. Despite the current situation, Japan was really organizing and doing their part to run the event. My race was held in Sapporo due to the heat, and I was able to stay in a small hotel and enjoy the Japanese food that was perfectly prepared for the event. My goal was to finish in the top 10, but I was happy to finish in 6th place!! After the event, I headed to Tokyo and stayed in the Olympic Village for two nights. I enjoyed packing lunch boxes in the dining hall and buying presents for my family in the souvenir shop. The only thing I regret is that I couldn't invite my parents from Australia, but I hope that will happen at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The Tokyo Olympics were a dream come true! Despite everything that was going on in the world, Japan did such a great job at organizing and executing the games. My race was held in Sapporo due to the heat, so we stayed in a small hotel and had the opportunity to eat traditional Japanese food which was the perfect way to prepare for the competition. My goal was to finish in the top 10 and I ended up with 6th The venue was very exciting! After our competition we flew to Tokyo and spent two nights in the Olympic village. I loved creating bento boxes at the casual dining hall and buying presents for my family at the merchandise center. The only sad aspect of these games was that our family could not travel from Australia to be there, but I am hopeful that they will come to the Paris 2024 Olympics.
6.Is there anything you would like to say to Smile Supporters (APCC donors)? What would you like to tell people who are thinking about donating or volunteering at APCC? APCC is an important place where children from different walks of life can meet and develop open-mindedness, tolerance and respect. If there is anything we can do to help each other and work towards world peace, it is APCC. I believe that the APCC is such an important way for children from different walks of life to come together and develop open minds, tolerance, and respect. If there is one thing that will help us work towards world peace, it is this.
