SINEAD CORMACK
2013: A black belt in karate from the age of 12, Cormack captained her school’s top netball, softball and rugby teams. She hoped to study physical education.
2023: After five years nursing at Southland Hospital, Cormack moved to Australia this year. She works for an agency as a registerednurse, travelling throughout Australia and specialising in emergency nursing. Her current contract is at a remote multipurpose facility where healthcare is limited, not easily accessible and there is no doctor on site. Shiftwork has limited her ability to take part in sport but she plays netball, touch and volleyball when she can.
GAVIN STARK
2013: Stark held a national junior sprint title and played rugby for the Otago Sassenachs, the Highlanders under-18 team and the Otago country premier side. He hoped to play professional rugby.
2023: Following an injury-marred career for Otago, Stark joined French club Biarritz in 2019 and won promotion to the premier divisionwith them. He now plays on the wing for Oyonnax, another team in the French top-14 league. In his final year of contract, he plans to continue playing for as long as he can compete at the top level. The professional rugby player is also a qualified builder.
