Dawn Fraser, Betty Cuthbert, Layne Beachley – the ancestry of Australian sportswomen is rich with tales of dedication and sacrifice. But there’s never been an Ellyse Perry, a world-class athlete in both cricket and soccer. 

Perry excelled in pretty much every sport imaginable – tennis, golf, little athletics, swimming and touch football, but it was cricket and soccer where she found her true passions. Ellyse quietly climbed the ranks of these two polar opposites of the sporting globe. But in July 2007, things got loud, very loud. Ellyse became the youngest Australian – male or female – to play senior international cricket. Just two weeks later she also had her debut for the Westfield Matildas, Australia’s national women’s soccer team. She was just 16.

Add to these achievements as the youngest Australian to play international cricket and the first to have appeared in both ICC and FIFA World Cups, World Twenty20 victories and you’ve got one very crowded list of accolades. Ellyse’s triumphs are not just incredible, but quite literally never-before seen. Throw a university degree into the mix and it’s obviously this young star is nothing short of an inspiration.

Talented? Obviously. Lucky? Ellyse would humbly say ‘Yes’. Like any athlete will tell you, success is only second to hard work and Ellyse lives by one very simple motto. “The harder I train, the luckier I get.” Ellyse Perry is one very lucky athlete.

ON THE COUCH WITH ELLYSE PERRY 

Your personal style is…

Pretty simple and relaxed. I don’t wear a lot of make-up, but a good mascara and a lip gloss is always something in my make-up bag.

Your last purchase was…

Adidas Adios Boost Running Shoes. These are super lightweight and really comfy. I love wearing these for distance running.

Your fave place in the world is…

The beach! I love hanging out at Bronte Beach in particular.

Your sporting highlight was…

Having the opportunity to represent Australia in two sports that I absolutely love has been a special highlight for me.

 

Your favourite thing to do on the weekend is…  

I love hanging out with friends and family and being outdoors. I also have a bit of a hobby when it comes to cafés and trying out different places. At the moment I’m loving Three Blue Ducks in Bronte, their Bircher Muesli is amazing, and you can go straight across the road to the beach for a swim afterwards!

Your sporting icon is…

My brother Damien. I used to play soccer and cricket with my brother Damien for hours on end, then I joined local sports clubs and it developed from there!

Your travel skin trick is…

Dermalogica SPF 50+ Skin Moisturiser. Sun protection is really important to me.

Your essentials for travel are… Bose in-ear noise cancelling headphones. This is a brilliant product to use on planes, they are really comfortable and fold up, so are easily transportable too!

Your haircare routine is…

I try and use good quality shampoos and conditioners because I always notice the difference with how my hair feels when I do. There are plenty of times though when my hair isn’t behaving and I need to cover it up with a hat!

Your favourite pre-workout snack is…

I love snacking on yoghurt with fruit and nuts. 

Your most effective workout moves are…

Warm up moves are really important to me. Just a few push ups, tuck jumps, sit ups and squats can help you avoid injury when training.

Your fitness philosophy is…

The harder I train, the luckier I get.

Your favourite recipes are…

Salmon, beetroot, apple and feta salad. 

Salmon is nutritiously rich protein with plenty of good fatty acids. It goes really well with these lighter ingredients. 

Ingredients

• 150g smoked salmon
• 1 baked beetroot, cut into chunks
• 1/2 Granny Smith apple, cut into thin slices
• 50g reduced fat feta
• Handful of fresh baby spinach leaves
• Drizzle of extra virgin olive oil to serve

Method

Prepare ingredients and combine in a medium serving bowl. Drizzle with olive oil.

Quinoa, currents, pine nuts, spinach and tuna salad.

There’s plenty of texture in this salad and it’s also a really light one if you’re not too hungry.

Ingredients

• 50g white or red quinoa
• Small handful of dried currents
• Small handful of pine nuts
• Handful of fresh baby spinach leaves
• 120g of canned or fresh tuna
• Balsamic vinegar to serve

Method

Prepare ingredients and combine in a medium serving bowl. Drizzle with olive oil.

Bircher muesli

I love breakfast so much sometimes I want it for lunch too!

Ingredients

• 1 gala apple, peeled and coarsely grated
• 1 cup rolled oats
• 1/2 cup sugarfree apple juice
• 1/2 cup low fat natural yoghurt
• Pinch of cinnamon
• Handful of walnuts
• Handful of pumpkins seeds
• 250ml low fat milk
• Fresh fruit to serve (I like to use blueberries, strawberries or raspberries)

Method

Combine oats, milk, juice, cinnamon, walnuts and pumpkin seeds in a bowl. Cover and refrigerate overnight.

In the morning, stir in yoghurt and grated apple and top with fresh fruit to serve.

Tell us why you find Ellyse Perry so inspiring below…