Meet Simon Hollingsworth, CEO, Australian Athletics
From Olympian to Rhodes Scholar to Australian Athletics, Simon is giving back to his sport by growing it.
Tasmanian-born Simon Hollingsworth’s life has been defined by excellence in athletics, academics and public policy. A dual Olympian (Barcelona 1992 and Atlanta 1996) in the 400m hurdles, a Commonwealth Games medallist and a Rhodes Scholar, Simon’s journey exemplifies resilience and keeping an eye on the big picture. With a distinguished career in public policy and sports governance, he now leads Athletics Australia, bringing his athletic and leadership expertise to transform the sport in Australia.
Tell us about your journey from athlete to CEO of Athletics Australia…
I’ve been involved in athletics for most of my life, starting in Tasmania. My event, the 400m hurdles, is highly technical and incredibly demanding, but it suited me. At 17, I competed at the Auckland 1990 Commonwealth Games, where I broke the Australian under-18 hurdles record – a record that actually still stands. Representing Australia at the Barcelona 1992 Olympics was an amazing experience for a 20-year-old from Tasmania, but injuries impacted my performance at Atlanta 1996, and it became a turning point that led me to apply for the Rhodes Scholarship.
It was a difficult decision to step away from elite athletics, particularly as it meant missing the Sydney 2000 Olympics, but I believed it would be a life-changing opportunity. At Oxford University, you’re surrounded by excellence, so it’s like the Olympics, and it opened new doors for my personal and professional growth.
Although I’ve spent much of my career in public policy, I’ve maintained a connection to athletics, so the Australian Athletics role felt like a natural culmination, bringing together my passion for the sport and my professional skills to give back, which is important to me.
How has your experience as an Olympian shaped your leadership approach?
Being an Olympian sticks with you for life. Representing your country on the global stage fosters a broader, international perspective. I’ve carried that outlook into my professional life, always adopting and adapting ideas from around the world.
The patience required to be an Olympic athlete is also a major influence. The Olympics happen every four years, so you need the ability to stay focused on incremental progress. Athletes who are successful recognize that the ups and downs are part of the journey. In leadership, success requires sustained, consistent effort, because not every day is a success. It’s not about avoiding setbacks but using them as opportunities to learn.
“Having access to certified, world-class facilities is crucial for these athletes. It allows them to train at the highest level and inspires participation at the grassroots.”
What are your primary goals as CEO of Australian Athletics?
Our goals revolve around innovation and growth. Athletics needs to find its unique place in Australia’s competitive market. I want to expand how people think about and engage with it, as a sport for all. It’s about how we deliver the sport differently and make it more attractive.
We’re also looking ahead to major milestones like the Brisbane 2032 Olympics. Building on our historic success in Paris 2024, which was our best performance since Melbourne 1956, is critical, and we aim to continue that momentum.
What impact will the partnership with Rekortan have on Australian athletics?
I’m really excited about it, as there's a great overlap between what we're trying to do and what Rekortan is trying to achieve as an organization. Athletics is unique in its reliance on specific track surfaces, making partnerships like this essential. Rekortan’s alignment with our vision makes it a standout collaboration. Their focus on innovation, excellence, and a global outlook mirrors what we’re striving for as a sport and aligns with our vision.
This partnership is creating opportunities for communities across Australia to access world-class facilities, which are essential for athletes at all levels. Having a partnership with a global brand that understands the importance of accessibility is invaluable. Together, we’re not only enhancing infrastructure but also building the sport’s future.
How will these facilities support emerging talent and grow the sport?
We’re in an exciting phase for Australian athletics. At the 2024 World Athletics U20 Championships in Lima, Australia finished second on the medal tally with 14 medals, just behind the USA. That speaks volumes about the talent we’re nurturing, such as Gout Gout, who’s 16 and recently broke a 50-plus-year-old senior 200m record, and Torrie Lewis, the fastest woman in Australian history at just 20. Or Claudia Hollingsworth (no relation, just a happy coincidence) and Craig Peyton, both of whom won silver medals at Lima.
Having access to certified, world-class facilities is crucial for these athletes. It allows them to train at the highest level and inspires participation at the grassroots. By increasing access to world-class infrastructure, we expand the talent pool and strengthen the athlete pipeline, which grows the future of the sport.
“Rekortan’s alignment with our vision makes it a standout collaboration. Their focus on innovation, excellence, and a global outlook mirrors what we’re striving for as a sport and aligns with our vision.”
What’s behind the recent surge of success for AA’s athletes?
It’s been a gradual build, driven by our high-performance strategy and a greater emphasis on coaching. When athletes push boundaries, they inspire others to do the same, and the success breeds success and the cultural mindset shifts.
We’ve also benefited from consistent investment from the Australian Sports Commission and federal government, which has allowed us to support athletes and coaches, and systems. We've been building success over the last few years, with a very good Tokyo 2020 Games, a strong outing at the Oregon World Championships, then the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, the Budapest World Championships, and then Paris 2024. The key now is to maintain this momentum and continue the virtuous cycle.
How significant is Brisbane 2032 for Australian athletics?
A home Olympics is an incredible opportunity, but for many athletes, the focus right now is on LA 2028. That will be a critical end point for some careers, while 2032 will be the starting line for others. Our goal is to achieve consistent success year-on-year, so that by 2032 we’re at our peak as a sport.
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