Flinders FEAP Profile With Sive Gibson, Surf Lifesaver, Year 12

She joined the College in Year 11 and is a participant in the Flinders Elite Athlete Program (FEAP), balancing high-level training and competition with her studies.

Her passion is surf lifesaving, and she is already exploring what comes next after graduation.

As an athlete, Sive contributes strongly to the College community: she is Captain of Swimming, plays in the Soccer Firsts and runs in the Cross Country team. 

Through FEAP, she has been supported to balance her athletic and academic commitments, developing strong skills in time management, organisation, resilience, healthy habits (like nutrition and rest), and maintaining a positive mindset and wellbeing.

In this profile, she shares her goals, dreams and the skills she has gained through FEAP.

Q: What are your recent sporting highlights?

This year, in the 2025 Aussie Surf Lifesaving Championships, I achieved 2nd place in both the Taplin Relay and the Board Relay. And I was a finalist in the Swim and Iron Competitions. 

In December 2024, I represented Queensland in Sydney for the Interstate Championships where we claimed 2nd place after being narrowly edged out by a very strong NSW team. 

Q: Sporting goals for 2025 and beyond?

I want to keep striving to qualify for the professional Iron Series and to be the best possible athlete I can be. 

Q: What academic goals do you strive for at Flinders? 

At Flinders, I am striving to study hard and achieve the highest possible ATAR I can achieve so that I can have a variety of study options to pursue beyond graduation. However, I do not believe that an ATAR defines you as a person; if you work hard and strive to be the best version of yourself, then I believe that is when the results show. 

Q: How has FEAP supported you through your sport and studies? 

FEAP has supported me in staying organised and planning out my weeks when I am away for competitions to make sure that I am on top of my schoolwork. FEAP Director, Ms Nourse, is so welcoming and attentive to every person in the FEAP and I am grateful for her continued guidance and support.  

Being in the FEAP allows me to understand that I can grow and achieve at both academic studies and sporting excellence; I don’t have to pick one over the other.