Ahead of hosting her first VIS Award of Excellence, VIS scholarship athlete and event MC Laura Hingston shares her sporting journey through the VIS, as 12-year-old gymnast to Australian diver and media professional.
I still remember walking into the old Victorian Institute of Sport (VIS) facility at the Collingwood Football Club building. I was so small that I couldn’t see over the reception desk.
Back then, we were sponsored by a confectionery company and there was always a bowl of lollies on the counter. I’d reach up to grab a handful on the way to the gym, and receptionist, Matt, would spot the top of my head and say, “Hey Laura, have a good session!”.
That was my childhood; flips, the VIS, a cheeky jelly snake (or five) before training, and showing up the Collingwood players with my handstands. In the small recognition from Matt, I learned what it felt like to belong in a place that demanded everything from you, but gave back even more.
I was a tiny, 12-year-old gymnast when I received my first VIS scholarship. I still remember the excitement of receiving my first letter.
At the time, getting a VIS scholarship was harder than making the national team. The competition was fierce, the spots limited, and every one of us wanted in.
Being a VIS gymnast also meant we got to wear the leotard. A black Swarovski firework, scratchy as hell, but absolutely a jaw dropping leotard. It was the same one worn by the VIS champions before us, like Ashleigh Brennan and Monette Russo, just two of the athletes I’d admired.
Strangely, I never felt young at the VIS. Even at 12, I approached everything with a focus and determination beyond my years, quickly learning the standards expected of a high-performance athlete.
I closely watched other athletes train, studied how they pushed their limits, and observed how they handled challenges. It taught me what being an elite athlete truly meant, both inspiring and intimidating, and exactly where I wanted to be.
Gymnastics is brutal, and my relentless drive to push my skills beyond my body’s readiness came at a cost.
My gymnastics career was cut short due to a back injury requiring surgery. During my recovery, I grew ten centimetres in just six weeks, and my growth spurt continued over the next 12 months. Suddenly, I was no longer the little gymnast and everything I had known was gone. It was a harsh but invaluable lesson in identity and security as an athlete.
Thankfully, the VIS had a talent transfer program, and we explored diving, pole vault, and aerial skiing.
I chose diving (completely ignoring the fact I was terrified of heights) and jumped in to chase my Olympic dream once again.
At almost 19 years old, it was a late transition to the diving platform, but I was determined to work twice as hard to catch up.
The early lessons at VIS, the discipline, attention to detail, and relentless drive, were so ingrained within me that I didn’t just survive the transition; I thrived. Making my first Australian diving team within 18-months of stepping on the boards.
As I started diving, I also started studying Journalism at RMIT University. Having experienced the consequences of not having a backup plan, building a dual career became central for me and my success in sport.
A typical week as a diver is ten sessions over six days, with early mornings and afternoon sessions. Between trainings, I work towards the career I want beyond the pool.
Right now, being an athlete is my primary focus, but working during the quieter competition blocks allows me to step into any role when things don’t go to plan.
Missing the Paris Olympics last year was heartbreaking. My VIS team had worked overtime to get my body ready and falling short was not the fairytale ending we had all planned for.
It was another heavy hit, especially after a long-term injury. There were tears, but once I caught my breath, I knew there was an opportunity to pivot.
During the Games, I stepped into the role of Associate Producer and Talent Liaison for Stan’s Olympic and Paralympic coverage. It was a dream experience I didn’t see coming.
And the unexpected bonus? Our teams coverage picked up a Logie!
People often ask me, “how do you do it?”. Train, dive, work in sports media, MC events, run workshops, and speak to various audiences.
The truth is, there’s no magic formula. Instead, a willingness to embrace the messy middle. Planning and flexibility is a non-negotiable in my experience.
My coach and support team know my commitments, and together we thoroughly plan how to hit performance goals, while still giving me space to build my career outside the pool.
It’s a constant balancing act, but the skills sport has taught me – discipline, adaptability, time management – are the same ones that help to juggle it all. When days get challenging, I channel the same mindset I have on the platform: focus on what I can control, give everything in the moment, and let go of the rest.
One week I am competing at the Diving World Cup Final and the next I am running around the broadcast compound at the Australian Open.
What I love most is that my careers feed each other. In hindsight, it really is no surprise I built a career around speaking, I’ve been rehearsing in the VIS corridors for years!
Soon, I’ll have the incredible honour of hosting the VIS Awards of Excellence, a full-circle moment that makes me reflect on how far I’ve come. From the quiet girl with big dreams to the one who now can’t walk ten metres in the VIS without stopping for a chat and laugh.
This phase of life has shown me how being an athlete gives insight, empathy, and credibility as a storyteller. As a presenter and media professional, it gives me a voice and a platform to highlight the stories that too often go unseen.
But through it all, I remain someone who learns relentlessly, strives fiercely, and grows through every triumph and setback sport and life throw my way.
The early years at VIS were filled with excitement, the later years with gratitude. When I reflect, I’ve spent more time at VIS than anywhere else, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Hosting the VIS Awards of Excellence is just one more reminder that the journey comes full circle, and that the lessons I learned as a little gymnast continue to shape every step of my path.
Tune into the VIS socials tomorrow, 11 November, to see which incredible athletes will etch their names into the VIS history books next.
