Fast five with Olivia Attenborough-Doyle

Author: Colleen Edwards
Timestamp: Mon 8 Jun 2020, 09:28 AM

Tweed Seagulls player Oliva Attenborough-Doyle is a talented athlete, having started her football journey playing touch.

The centre played her first game with the Seagulls last season after getting a taste of rugby league at her high school's gala days.

Earlier this year, Attenborough-Doyle made her BHP Premiership debut in Round 1 of the competition against Souths Logan Magpies.

During a rare break, whilst completing assignments for her education degree, Attenborough-Doyle took time out to take part in the 'fast five' questions challenge.

Fast five with Olivia Attenborough-Doyle

Football family - does anyone else in your family play? Who / with which team?

Footy has run in the family with both my father and brother playing for Seagulls and the Glen Innes Magpies growing up. However, I found my true passion for footy when i was inspired by my best friend Tarryn Aiken who is now making it a career. Taz and I have been best friends for over 10 years now, we played pretty much every sport together when we were younger. We clicked so much 'cause we are as competitive as each other. Anything she sets her mind to, she achieves it and it became a trait that I admired very much of her.

Tarryn's ability to remain extremely humble and grateful at all the experiences she has been through amazes me and inspires myself to be more like her. Footy has always been Taz’s sport from a young age, so when there was an opportunity for her play again she went for it and I just tagged along as well.

In action during Round 1 of the BHP Premiership competition earlier this year. Photo: Tweed Seagulls Media

Favourite footy memory?

My favourite footy memory was the very first time playing for the first ever girls football team for Tweed Seagulls, which is personally something very important to me. It was so special for me to play because I’m from Tweed and it has been my local club since I was little, so there was no other club I would rather represent. If I’m being honest, for the first game I was very nervous, but once you get that first tackle out of the way, it was awesome. It was such a different game and different atmosphere from touch, I enjoyed having a new experience in a sport I was unfamiliar with, but grew up watching.

But I have to say, having the touch background definitely made it easier to play footy, especially when it came to attacking. I was shocked at how quickly I was able to pick up the game and without the touch background, it wouldn’t have been such a smooth transition.

Fashion - what’s the most worn item in your wardrobe?

Hands down my Birkenstocks.

Fitness tips? Any favourite exercises or tips for staying motivated?

I enjoy training with others to keep me motivated and accountable, and it also brings out my competitive nature.

Find out more - is there anything you are studying, reading, watching now that you are spending more time at home?

I am in my final year of a Bachelor of Primary Education at Southern Cross University and I am so excited to graduate and begin my career as a teacher.

Outside of studying, at the moment I have been addicted to watching ‘The Last Dance’ on Netflix. I have found it really inspiring and I would definitely recommend others to watch it too.