Taking The Fast Track

So, what does this rare calm moment look like for Liz? “My perfect day off is waking up a bit later – but not super late” she clarifies. “Then venturing out to get a coffee and a snack before heading back home. Watching a game of basketball, maybe doing some groceries and a bit of a clean and then just sitting on the couch. Honestly, the simple things on a day off are perfect.” With a watchlist comprising mainly new releases on Disney Plus such as The Dropout and Dopesick, the self-proclaimed series lover now enjoys the comforts of home over her youthful partying days.

Maybe unsurprising after the two years of lockdown, but the remnants of this pandemic are still very much at the forefront of Liz’s mind. “The last 12 months I’ve probably done the least amount of going out to dinner or going out for a drink because of the virus, like I can’t really afford to get it,” she says. “I’ve really been a homebody since I got home from the Olympics. I did go for a drink two nights ago as I felt like I needed to let off some steam before I hook into two big months of training, but I love being at home, I am so content. And diet is a big thing as well.”

That comes as no surprise as one of her TikTok videos outlined what a typical day of eating in between training looked like: “heaps of water”, “protein shake”, “gluten-free toast with tuna and avocado” and “teriyaki meat with steamed broccoli” to name a few of her food choices of fuel. “I think as I kind of move through my career and every year gets a little bit more professional, I think I’m doing less (going out).” But that isn’t to say she doesn’t indulge: “I love KitKats, that’s my thing but I don’t feel guilty about having them because so much of my life is so strict, you have to have balance. Like I’ll have a pizza or burger, but I mean my stomach probably can’t really handle it that well so I can’t do it often,” she laughs.

With that said, her life on the Gold Coast makes it easy for the hurdler to adapt the healthy lifestyle of an Olympian into her day-to-day routine. Her go-to spot is No Name Lane on Broadbeach, a café that she claims to have the best coffee and an unbeatable chicken salad – “It’s the best quinoa chicken salad you will ever have” – and when she craves her favourite Japanese cuisine, you’ll find her in restaurant Etsu Izakaya. Now, living minutes from the beach in this Australian coastal city, Liz’s move here from Sydney in 2016 was the step she says inspired her to transition into taking sport professionally.

If so, you could predict a summer of applause and calls for an encore. “I am very driven and dedicated to what I do, and nothing gets in the way of that,” she clarifies. “It’s kind of like being me, at this moment, I am my sport for right now and every decision I make throughout my whole day relates to that in some way, even if I don’t realise it.” On the precipice of a relentless regime, is there an end goal for the hurdler? “Everyone’s goal is Olympic gold. You don’t do this sport to go halfway,” states Liz. “But it is insane. You know five years ago my goal was literally just to make the Olympics and live by the beach and I achieved that. But I think you can’t really put an end goal on a career because not everyone’s going to win Olympic gold.” But beyond the medals, there is something she still wants to do.