Olympic Runner Peter Bol Inspires MacKillop College Students During Wellbeing Week

MacKillop College was honored to host Australian Olympian Peter Bol as part of its Wellbeing Week activities. The middle-distance runner, who placed fourth in the 800 meters at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, shared his inspiring journey and valuable life lessons with senior students.

Bol, born in Sudan and arriving in Australia at age eight, spoke about overcoming challenges, setting goals, and the power of sport.

“We face challenges every single day, whether that’s in life, in sport and it’s not what we face, it’s how you overcome them and your ability to bounce back,” he told the students.

The Olympian emphasised the importance of happiness in achieving success.

“A happy athlete is a performing athlete, so what you do outside of the track, outside of the sporting field, outside of your work is just as important as you do during it,” Bol explained.

Reflecting on his family’s move to Australia, Bol shared the difficulties of cultural adjustment.

“I think one of the things that I struggled with the most was going to school. You spend so much time at school and you can’t speak English. You don’t know what everyone is saying. It’s a completely different culture,” he recalled.

Bol encouraged students to embrace their identity and speak their truth.

“You got to be able to speak your truth and say it the way it is… be proud of who you are,” he advised.

He also stressed the importance of cultural integration: “I can absolutely embrace where I come from and also embrace Australian culture and merge them together. It doesn’t mean you have to choose one from the other”.

The athlete’s visit aligns with MacKillop College’s commitment to student wellbeing and personal development. The school’s Wellbeing Week, which includes various activities and programs, aims to support students’ overall wellness.

Peter Bol’s inspiring words left a lasting impression on the MacKillop College community, reinforcing the importance of resilience, self-acceptance, and embracing opportunities in life.