https://www.dailymercury.com.au/news/mackay-skaters-dream-run-to-world-stage/3657113/ ROLLER DERBY: Tonie Rolfe's rise to prominence in the roller derby community has been a "crazy” experience. Seven years ago, the Mackay skater was enticed by a friend from work to come along to her first "jam''. From that moment she was hooked, and it has led her to Australian selection for this year's World Roller Games in Barcelona. Rolfe said she had had a limited background in sport before that fateful day, making her ascension to the green and gold all the sweeter. "I literally did nothing; I went from being a legal secretary to joining it because I had nothing else to do ... and now it's taking me to Spain,” she said. "This is something I've always dreamed of, representing my country, and being able to do it in a sport I love is two buckets ticked off at once.” Rolfe's passion for the game led her to launch Mackay's Phoenix Fury Roller Girls last year, when she led from the front as their inaugural president. She has since moved to the Gold Coast to further her roller derby career.
She participated in the official World Roller Games try-outs last month and became one of 15 players selected from 80 avid competitors. "I wasn't expecting it because so many people tried out and it was Australia-wide,” Rolfe said. "We got the notification two weeks after the official try-outs and I was over the moon.” After claiming the roller derby silver medal at the 2017 World Roller Games in China, the squad is putting in the hard yards to go one better when the 2019 Games begin on July 4. Outside of her team commitments, Rolfe trains for six days a week off skates and is refining her ability on wheels for 12 to 16 hours a week. She said it was as crucial to ensure fitness levels were as high off the skates as it was on them. However, she said it was difficult to prepare as a team given how widespread the contingent was around Australia. "It's really hard, obviously, having everyone live all over Australia. I think we're got four six-hour sessions coming up ... nothing will ever prepare you though for match fitness,” Rolfe said. "(But) some of the girls who are on the team this year were on the team last year, so that will help as well.” Rolfe identified the United States as their biggest threat after losing out to them for the gold medal. She hopes the experience will take her game to the next level, and aims to be a positive influence on the roller derby community upon her return from Spain. "If you always stay in that same level and don't try any harder you're not going to go any further,” she said. "But if you put yourself in a situation where you are playing against the best it makes you the best as well.”
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November 2019
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