Success Stories

Daisy Butterworth

“My rowing club did nothing but challenge me, support me and make me into a better rower”

Daisy rowed for England as a junior, winning two gold medals at the Home International regatta and raced for GB in the World Junior Rowing Championships in 2018. On her gap year she enrolled on a Sport Lived rowing programme in Melbourne. Daisy is currently studying at Southern Methodist University in Texas where she rows for the SMU Varsity 8 which was named American Athletic Conference Women’s Rowing Boat of the Year 2021, as voted by the league’s head coaches.

Craig McKee

“Playing hockey in Australia was the best experience of my life.”

Craig took part in a full season hockey programme in Australia with Sport Lived before studying sport and exercise science at Coventry University. He has since captained Stratford Hockey Club and is currently Head of Hockey & Head of Year 11 at King Henry VIII School in Coventry.

Beccy Lewis

“I wouldn’t be where I am today without my Sport Lived experience!”

With a degree in Sports Coaching from Leeds Beckett University under her belt, Beccy decided to take a gap year in Australia with Sport Lived, to learn and develop her career in netball. During her year in Melbourne, she worked as a netball coach at Netball Victoria, St Michael’s Grammar School and Penleigh and Essendon Grammar School, as well as playing netball for a local club, completing a performance programme with Richmond AFL and gaining multiple coaching and officiating qualifications with Netball Australia. Beccy has since worked for Super League franchise Surrey Storm, and is currently the assistant coach for England Universities Netball and Leeds Rhinos U19s. She is also an England Netball Development Officer.

Tom Crosse

“To spend six months living in Melbourne and playing cricket was an unbelievable experience.”

During his gap year Tom played cricket in Australia with Sport Lived, before studying for a BA in sport at Durham University. Since then, he has more than ten years of experience in marketing for the sports industry, working at Leicester City FC, Lord’s Cricket Ground and currently as the Team Marketing Manager for The Hundred, at the England & Wales Cricket Board.

Jen Bryant

“My experience in Australia helped develop coaching skills I still rely on today”

After her A levels, Jen took a gap year to coach hockey in Australia with Sport Lived. She went on to study for a BSc in Sport Science and an MSc in Exercise Physiology at Loughborough University before working with the British Bobsleigh and Skeleton Association. Today she lives in the US and is currently the Winter Sports High Performance Director with the US Olympic & Paralympic Committee.

Steven Green

“The Sport Lived programme developed me as a cricketer and as a person.”

Steven played cricket in Melbourne with Sport Lived during his gap year before studying at Oxford University. He went on to play for the Oxford MCCU where he made his first-class debut and played against county teams such as Kent and Somerset. One of his career highlights was winning at Lord’s Cricket Ground in the Universities Challenge final and being named Man of the Match.

Theo McKibbin Malins-Smith

“I had a great time and really evolved as both a person and a player.”

Whilst at Rugby School, Theo played 1st XV Rugby, 1st XI Cricket and then played rugby with Sport Lived in Australia during his gap year. After taking a degree in Ancient History at Nottingham University, where continued to play both rugby and cricket, he qualified as a chartered accountant and currently works in Valuation, Modelling and Economics for EY in London. He remains a keen sportsman, playing cricket for the MCC.

Ben Barclay

“My time in Melbourne was fantastic and I look back on the experience with great fondness.”

Ben had a successful sporting career at Loughborough Grammar School where he captained the first tennis team, played First XI football, and played county tennis for Leicestershire. He followed school with a Sport Lived gap year in Melbourne where he coached the Year 7 and Year 11 tennis teams at a local grammar school. After travelling in Australia, New Zealand & South East Asia he studied for a BSc and then an MSc in Real Estate at the University of Reading. Ben has since enjoyed a successful career in the property sector, including three years working in Budapest. He is currently an Asset Manager with Frasers Group.

Ed Tellwright

“Playing in Australia was essential for my later rugby success.”

Ed took part in a Sport Lived rugby programme in Australia before studying for a BSc in Sports Biochemistry and Nutrition in Cardiff. While at university he represented England playing for English Students and British Universities. Ed also diversified into sevens with the Great Britain University 7's team and Samurai International where he was part of their winning team at the Middlesex 7s. He went on to play rugby professionally for Sale Sharks, Rotherham Titans, Jersey RFC and Coventry. Ed currently works as the South West Senior Manager for the British Business Bank.

Tom Parfett

“I had an incredible time in Melbourne playing cricket, coaching at a great school and living in a stunning part of the city.”

While at King’s School Macclesfield Tom served as First XI Cricket Captain, gained colours for rugby, and even stayed on to coach younger pupils after officially leaving school. He also played for Macclesfield CC in the Cheshire Premier League and for the county’s youth team. It was no surprise then that Tom decided to take a sporting gap year, taking part in a Sport Lived cricket programme in Melbourne, both playing and coaching. He then went on to study for a degree in French at Bangor University. Since graduating, Tom has pursued his love of sport, initially as an ECB Level 2 cricket coach, and then in the sports travel industry. He currently works as a Sports Tour Consultant with GB Sports Tours.

Tim Swinson

“If I hadn't gone to Australia, I wouldn't be here now”

Tim played a full season rugby programme in Australia with Sport Lived before studying at Newcastle University. He was selected to play for Premiership team the Newcastle Falcons where he was named Player of the Year in 2010-11. He went on to play for Glasgow Warriors for eight years, during which time he also won 38 caps for his home nation of Scotland. He postponed retirement to play two seasons for Saracens before finally hanging up his boots in 2022. Tim now lives in Edinburgh where he works as a consultant for a firm of Chartered Accountants.

Will Kalikman

“My time in Melbourne was great for my development as an athlete and as an individual.”

As a junior, Will enjoyed a successful career rowing at Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire, and Oakland Strokes, in his home state of California. His Oakland Strokes 8 finished 3rd in the U19 category at the US National Championships. He took part in a rowing gap year with Sport Lived in Melbourne, before enrolling as a student-athlete at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire, where he is a member of the Men’s Heavyweight Rowing team and has medalled in both the Eastern Sprints championship and the IRA national championship.

Phoebe Murray

“The level of coaching and training I received was outstanding.”

Phoebe’s passion for rugby started at the age of six and is still going strong! She played rugby with Sport Lived during her gap year and was subsequently appointed Captain of the England U20 rugby team for their successful summer tour of Canada. Today, Phoebe is studying medicine at Bristol University, where she also plays for the Bristol Bears, competing in the Allianz Premier 15s. Though becoming a doctor is her long-term plan, her more immediate ambition is to break into the England senior squad and play rugby full-time and professionally.

Hugo van de Graaf

“My time rowing in Australia was incredible and truly helped shape the person I am today!”

After rowing for Switzerland in both European and World Championships as a junior, Hugo took a gap year to row in Australia with Sport Lived in preparation for studying and rowing at UC Berkeley in California. After graduating with a degree in Data Science, Hugo now lives in London and works as a Graduate Actuarial Analyst at Gallagher Re.

George Nash

“It was an amazing few months and I’d thoroughly recommended Sport Lived to anyone who loves sport”

George took part in a Sport Lived rowing programme in Melbourne before studying mechanical engineering at Cambridge University, where he was part of the victorious Cambridge crew in the 2010 Boat Race. He rowed for Great Britain at the London 2012 Olympics, winning a bronze medal in the men's pair with Will Satch. After three successive World Championship golds, George then represented Great Britain in the 2016 Olympics, winning a gold medal with the men's coxless four. Now retired from professional rowing, George works as a technical director for engineering company Kinetrol.

Harry Bush

“My Sport Lived experience was fantastic. I came back a completely different player.”

Harry played cricket with Sport Lived in Australia before studying at Leeds University. Between 2009 and 2012 he played Second XI cricket with Durham, Leicestershire and Kent. Since then Harry has worked in finance, and is now UK Sales Director at Nuveen.

Tash Barrington

“Sport is a fantastic way to explore the world, integrate into a new community and build connections along the way.”

After playing first team netball at Benenden School, Tash decided to pursue her love of the game with a sporting gap year abroad. She took part in a Sport Lived netball programme, playing with a leading club in Australia. She loved the experience so much that she recommended it to her sister who enrolled in a Sport Lived tennis programme in Melbourne. Back in the UK, Tash continued playing netball at Durham University while studying for a First Class law degree. She began her legal career at Linklaters and is currently Legal Counsel at LGT Capital Partners. Tash still plays netball and captains her team at Capital N.U.N.s in London.

Jimmy Keinhorst

“The coaching, guidance and training all made for something really special.”

Jimmy completed a Sport Lived rugby programme before studying at Leeds Metropolitan University where he played rugby union for Leeds Met, British Universities and National League team Otley. While at university, Jimmy was spotted by the Leeds Rhinos Rugby League coaching staff and went on to sign for the club in 2011, and was part of the victorious Rhinos Super League winning team in 2015.

Craig Stow

“The Sport Lived programme was an amazing experience.”

Craig was born in Zimbabwe, grew up in Zambia and was educated in South Africa, and grabbed the opportunity to play cricket wherever and whenever possible! after finishing school, he took part in a Sport Lived cricket programme with a leading cricket club in Melbourne. Having built a reputation as a talented seam bowling all-rounder during his time in Australia, Craig then played as the overseas professional at two clubs in the UK, Ashton-on-Mersey in Chester and Hythe and Dibden in Hampshire. He since qualified as an ECB Level 2 Coach and is currently working as a coach, including as youth coach with Redmarley CC, Gloucestershire.

Connor Doughty

“I would highly recommend Sport Lived to anyone looking to travel and coach.”

Tennis has always been Connor’s passion. As a junior he played for Hinckley Town Tennis Club first team and spent his Saturday mornings coaching junior players. He earned his LTA Level 1 and Level 2 qualifications and then decided to coach tennis in Australia with Sport Lived on a post-school gap year. Connor spent six months coaching tennis at various academies in Melbourne and loved the experience so much that he decided to settle in Australia permanently. He’s currently the Senior Coach at Elsternwick Park Tennis Centre in Brighton, Victoria.

Andrew Bardsley

“Sport Lived gave me experiences and friends I would never otherwise have had.”

In his time at Giggleswick School, Andrew played First XV rugby and First XI cricket and represented the school at football, hockey and swimming. A sporting gap year followed with Sport Lived in Australia where he coached two school rugby teams for a season. He studied for a philosophy degree at the University of Stirling, and having always enjoyed the challenge of leading and building teams, he embarked on a career in training and development. Andrew is currently Head of Learning and Development at xDesign, an IT Consulting company in Edinburgh.

Rick Moore

“Do it, and make the most of every opportunity available to you.”

After playing for Lancashire CCC Academy as a junior Rick chose to do a Sport Lived cricket programme in Melbourne on his gap year before studying at Leeds Metropolitan University. Rick played two first class matches for the Leeds/Bradford MCCU against Surrey and Yorkshire and subsequently played over 40 minor counties matches with Cheshire. He currently plays for Chester Broughton Hall CC in the Cheshire ECB Premier League and is Vice Captain of their 1st XI.

Milivoj Vagic

“Spending 6 months in Australia, coaching rowing and living with fellow athletes was incredible.”

As a junior GB international rower & Captain of Latymer Upper School Boat Club, Milivoj wanted to pursue his sport during his gap year. He enrolled in a Sport Lived rowing programme in Melbourne and also coached rowing at a local high school during his stay. Milivoj went on to study and row at UC Berkeley, winning 6 silver medals & competing in National Championships every year during his degree. Since graduating Milivoj has worked in cyber security in London and also volunteered with a foundation in India.

Max Latchmore

“Sport Lived was a great way to go abroad to do something completely different.”

Max played cricket with Sport Lived in Melbourne after finishing his degree at Nottingham University. He went on to train as a solicitor at Bird & Bird and is currently Legal Counsel at Octopus Energy. In his role as a solicitor, he’s particularly proud to have represented the International Cricket Council in a ball tampering case.

Vicky Isaac-Hewett

“Playing hockey and living in Melbourne was a fantastic life experience which certainly helped me develop as both a hockey player and a person.”

Vicky started out as footballer, playing in goal for Arsenal Women’s youth team, but transitioned to hockey whilst at school at Haileybury where she went on to captain the First XI Hockey team. During her gap year she chose to play a full hockey season in Melbourne with Sport Lived. She secured her place as the club’s second team goalie and went on to win the league with the team, making some vital saves in the Grand Final. She continued to play while at Loughborough University and then played in the National League for Surbiton. Today, Vicky works as Head of Quantitative Trading Services at Sporting Group.

Alex Goble

“The experience in Australia helped me become a better player”

Alex played rugby with Sport Lived in Australia on his gap year, before heading to Nottingham Trent University to study for a BSc in Property. While at university he was selected to play for England Counties U20. Since graduating Alex has played professionally for Old Elthamians, and now plays part-time for Richmond RFC as well as working in property development.

Peter Sidwell

“I had an amazing time in Australia, playing hockey at a great club and making friends I still speak with regularly today.”

Peter played a full season hockey programme with Sport Lived in Australia during his gap year before studying for a BSc in Psychology at the University of Manchester. He went on to train as a chartered accountant, has worked for PwC and GSK, and has recently joined Haleon. Peter plays national league hockey as goalkeeper for Harborne HC.

Tim Slade

“I made friends for life and grew both on and off the pitch.”

Before taking his degree in Business Management, Tim took a gap year to play hockey with Sport Lived in Australia. Since graduating he has worked at IBM and is now National Account Manager at Vodafone Business. He is still a keen hockey player and coaches at Trojans Hockey Club, Southampton.

Ed Belger

“I didn’t just improve my coaching and playing ability but also learnt to adapt to different situations and environments.”

After completing a BTEC in Sports Studies, Ed took part in not one, but three Sport Lived cricket programmes! Having played a season with a leading club in Melbourne, he then coached at various schools in the city, including Camberwell Grammar School. Ed continued to coach on his return to the UK at Downend CC and went on to become Head of Cricket at Twenty20 Community Cricket in Surrey, where he also qualified as an ECB Level 3 Coach. Ed currently works as a Community Coach for the Surrey Cricket Foundation and as an age group coach with Hampshire CCC.