Jess Thirlby: Netball's Sky Brown could emerge from sport's Olympic bid

By Rachel Steinberg

Jess Thirlby believes netball’s Sky Brown is somewhere out there – and now the sport has moved one step closer to making teens’ Olympic dreams become reality.

The Vitality Roses head coach was one of millions “hooked” by the 13-year-old Team GB sensation, who won the first-ever Olympic bronze in park skateboarding when the sport debuted in Tokyo last week.

On Monday, England Netball pledged its support to World Netball and Netball Australia, who announced they will be bidding for the netball’s inclusion at the 2032 Brisbane Olympics.

“We know that the Olympics is a huge stage for any sport,” said Thirlby.

“And we have seen that with the likes of skateboarding. I was hooked.

“I took my son and daughter to a skateboard park on the weekend like every other parent has done in recent weeks.

“If Sky Brown can inspire millions of children to get on a skateboard, I’ve seen first-hand what netball can do within its own family.

“And I think it’s just a bit of a sleeping giant from an Olympics point of view, and I’d like to think that the Olympics needs netball.

“And I think we can definitely make our impression on the Olympics for sure.”

Netball has never been included in the Olympics - Thirlby admitted they “were all a bit gutted” when the sport wasn’t on the programme for the Sydney 2000 Games - but believes momentum is swinging in the sport’s favour.

It long ago passed the first hurdle in getting on a Games programme when, in 1995, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) recognised governing federation World Netball.

World Netball said in its statement that more than 20 million participants are involved in the sport across 76 member nations, but openly acknowledged the game was originally developed for girls and women.

More work will need to be done to increase male participation to support the Olympic lobby.

“I’m super proud that netball is first and foremost female-focused,” said Thirlby.

“I think with our counterparts like rugby and football, they often have to operate unfairly most of the time in the shadows of the men’s version of the sport and we don’t have to do that.

“I think we stand proud of being female focused, but what I love is that with a ten-year plan I believe, and I’m confident that the men’s and mixed game can grow.”

Thirlby wasn’t just inspired by skateboarding. She also saw the popularity of mixed events introduced in several sports in Tokyo, including athletics and triathlon, as fortunate foreshadowing for netball.

She said: “There seemed to be a real appetite for mixed events across the Tokyo Games, which was really intriguing.

“I’m really curious as to the interest that’s generated, so I think what netball has is the opportunity to grow in that space without taking away from what it’s always stood for, which is girls and women across the globe to stand proud in a netball dress wherever they are.

“I don’t think we want to lose sight of that.

“But to be able to grow our game and follow in the footsteps of other nations such as Australia and New Zealand who have grown the mixed and men’s game incredibly well, it’s very strong in those nations.

“We’ve just seen over the course of this weekend that the England Men’s and Mixed Netball Association have run their first national tournament, and if we can do that now I think we stand a good chance of growing the game in ten years’ time in order that we can put ourselves up there as a real strong bid.”