Caliba supports athlete Brooke Buschkuehl via The WattleNest
Champion long-jumper Brooke Buschkuehl will receive greater support as she builds up to next year’s Paris Olympics campaign, with consulting firm Caliba teaming up with The WattleNest as a sponsor.
National procurement consultancy Caliba has formed a partnership with athlete empowerment organisation The WattleNest to provide support for Australian Olympic long jumper Brooke Buschkuehl as she strives for gold at next year’s Paris Games.
The WattleNest, established last year by former Brisbane Lions commercial general manager Rachel Condos-Fields, aims to lessen the financial burden and other barriers faced by Australia’s elite sportsmen and women.
“The WattleNest is thrilled to be welcoming Caliba as an official partner to our athlete empowerment journey,” Condos-Fields said. “Caliba has seen firsthand the value of supporting athletes in their workforce and recognise the adversity they face chasing their dreams. We are beyond excited to be in partnership with the team and look forward to celebrating the rewards together as we make a difference towards the runway to 2032.”
In addition to sponsorship over the next three years, Caliba will also be providing Buschkuehl with business skills support to assist in her future transition from athletics – an arrangement that will further extend to other WattleNest members.
In return, Buschkuehl will join the Brisbane-based Caliba for strategy days to demonstrate how her routines have business relevance, while the Caliba professionals will also draw inspiration from Buschkuehl’s story of perseverance.
“At Caliba, we believe in the power of opportunity. It is a real privilege to be able to provide Brooke with purposeful opportunities and new support,” the consulting firm stated, adding that it currently employed two former elite athletes – Calvin Masson and Felix Kong – who have made the successful transition to consultants.
Caliba partner Daniel Williams meanwhile expressed his and the company’s absolute excitement to see where the new partnership would lead.
Meanwhile, Williams revealed that Caliba will be establishing a specific Olympic procurement business stream to support the Brisbane 2032 Olympics.
Support for top athletes
Buschkuehl’s story is a prime example of the need for better support of Australian athletes according to The WattleNest, who on average spend 36 hours training per week and then travel to compete at international meets, often in the hope of qualifying for the Olympics. Such schedules delimit job opportunities, along with injuries and rehabilitation, but the athletes also have to finance such trips, including the costs of support teams and any specialised equipment.
Still, barely three months after returning to competition from extensive knee surgery, Buschkuehl last year hit the top of the world rankings after recording the longest jump of any woman in 2022, while also breaking her own national record in the process.
Prior to that, she finished 7th at the Tokyo Olympics, a repeat of her placing in Rio de Janeiro, but will be aiming for the top of the podium in Paris to become Australia’s first ever Olympic medalist in the women’s long jump.
