IT is important to be physically active every day. This is a major part of national netball coach Vicki Wilson’s daily routine because she believes being active and starting the day with exercise helps her clear her mind and plan the day.
Six months after taking up the role to mould national and upcoming Fijian netball players, the retired Australian international netball rep is already enjoying working with Fijian netballers and she is obsessed about helping all players no matter what their learning style is.
Wilson was a part of the Australian national netball team for 15 years, making her debut in 1985.
She became captain of the Australian netball team in 1996, while on the comeback trail from a knee injury sustained at the 1995 Netball World Championships.
In 1998, she led the Australian team to the first ever netball gold medal at the Commonwealth Games and in 1999 she retired on a winning note, after leading Australia to a one-point win in the Netball World Championship final.
Wilson was called up to coach the Queensland Firebirds in 2006, after consistent lacklustre performances in the Commonwealth Bank Trophy.
She continued with the franchise in the ANZ Championship, but was stood down from the position by Netball Queensland after the 2009 season.
In May 2013, Wilson was named the new assistant coach for the New Zealand Silver Ferns until the end of 2015.
Age: 48
Lives in: Suva
Describe yourself: Organised, loyal and hardworking.
What inspires you to be the person that you are?
A Knowing that the things I do can help make a difference to an individual or a group of people in this world.
What would you describe as your passion in life and how are you going about realising it?
AI am very passionate about netball. It has brought me a lot of wonderful opportunities and some great friendships. I enjoy imparting my knowledge to help players and coaches improve and become the best they can be.
What would you consider to be the most memorable in your career?
A Winning the 1991 Netball World Championships in Sydney, Australia.
v I am obsessed … about helping all players no matter what their learning style is. So I need to be adaptable and flexible in my approach, which at times is very challenging.
v I can’t live without … chocolate especially peanut M&Ms.
v I am proud of … my sense of community spirit. I enjoy working and meeting all types of people from all walks of life.
v Wish I could change … a car tyre. I think I might have to do that here in Fiji.
v Really need to … start practising yoga to maintain flexibility and muscle length. I need a yoga instructor in Suva.
v Can’t handle it … when people are rude and inconsiderate.
v I look back and … think how lucky I have been to travel the world with the sport that I love playing.
v I relax by … watching movies. It doesn’t matter whether they are action or a good chick flick — I enjoy them all. It is a great way for me to switch off, turn off the mobile and relax and immerse myself totally in the film.
v I am excited about … coaching the Fiji under-21 team for the World Youth Championships in Botswana in July.
v I have always wanted … to be able to stand up on a surf board.
v Biggest weakness … chocolate.
v List of favourite things … my Havaianas and boogie board.
v Opinion on the state of the world … the demise of the world’s agricultural industries is very concerning.
v Mother always told me … as a young child, not to run up the backstairs of our home as I would fall over.
I didn’t listen as I always ran and every now and then I would fall and hurt myself and cry.
v My attitude to exercise … to be physically active every day. I enjoy being active and enjoy starting the day with exercise as it helps me to clear my mind and plan the day.
v My relationship with my body … I miss my “20-year-old body”.
Full name: Vicki Wilson
Favourite food: Mangoes, fish and prawns.
Favourite drink: Sauvignon Blanc — Shaw and Smith (Australia) & Cloudy Bay.
Favourite book: Any Harlen Coben novel.
Favourite movies: The Lovely Bones, James Bond movies.
Mentor since childhood: very lucky to have a number of great mentors. In netball, I seek the advice of former Australian coaches Jill McIntosh and Joyce Brown.
Favourite quote: If you always do what you have always done, you will always get what you have always got.
Change is different, creative and winning.
Person you would love to meet: Michelle Obama — a very cool and intelligent woman.
Advice: Attitude and effort make all the difference.
