Sport, Health & Wellbeing
Overcoming life's hurdles: Alesha Bennetts
Alesha Bennetts has made endless sacrifices for the sport she loves.
At just 16, Alesha moved away from her hometown of Mudgee – and her entire family – to train at the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS). It’s a sacrifice that has paid off: she now represents Australia in the 400m Hurdles.
She’s also navigated health issues, including epilepsy and the effects the diagnosis has had on her performance, training, and university studies.
Alesha is in the second year of a Bachelor of Physiotherapy at the University of Canberra.
“I’ve always loved athletics, since I was in the Tiny Tots program of Little Athletics back home in Mudgee,” she says.
“I went to the NSW State competition when I was in Year 2 and made the final, so I was stoked. When I was in under tens, I started beating the boys. And then in Year 6, I made my first Nationals.”
Alesha’s journey progressed from there, and she started increasing the distance she competed in. When she first tried the 400m, she was terrified.
“I used to cry before the 200m because it seemed so far and scary, which is quite funny considering I now run the 400m,” Alesha says.
She also began working with former Olympic hurdler Matt Beckenham, who moved into coaching towards the end of his athletic career.
Following half a decade of being coached via correspondence, Alesha moved to Canberra to begin senior school at Daramalan College, and was finally able to train with Matt in person.
“I had extended family living in Canberra. My uncle and cousin let me live with them while I was in Year 11 and 12,” Alesha says.
During that time, Alesha had several seizures, despite having been treated for epilepsy since her diagnosis at age 14.
“It’s a bit of a traumatic story: I had a seizure in the pool and almost drowned,” she says.
“Three girls had to pull me from the water and I was taken to Dubbo Hospital. I was then seizure-free for three years, until I was in Year 12 – then I had three seizures within a three-week period.
“Two of them led to concussions and I wasn’t allowed to drive, and I couldn’t sit my final exams. It also set my athletics back six months, if not more.”
Alesha now manages her epilepsy with medication, and works with her doctors to ensure that the combination of study, training, and overseas travel is manageable.
Following graduation from school, Alesha moved to the AIS residences to be able to focus even more on her sport. She also knew she wanted to study at the same time.
“I never knew exactly what I wanted to do after school. I kind of liked the idea of helping people, and obviously I’m interested in sport, so I applied for a few different degrees, but physio was my number one choice,” she says.
“I didn’t know if I’d be accepted into it because it’s really competitive, but I got in and was stoked.”
Knowing the degree could be quite intensive, Alesha opted to do three units per semester, in order to balance her studies and training.
She also applied for the UC Elite Athlete Program, which supports students by providing academic, administrative, financial, and welfare support throughout their studies. Earlier this year, she was the recipient of an Eldon and Anne Foote Elite Athlete Scholarship, which provides selected Elite Athlete students with a scholarship to financially support their training needs.
Alesha put her funds towards her travel and levy fee for the FISU World University Games, held this year in Germany.
“[World Uni Games] has been a goal for me for a while, I’ve heard it’s a really cool experience,” she says.
To qualify, Alesha needed to meet a quota time as well as be one of the top two athletes applying who had received a qualifying time at the Australian Athletics Championships.
“I got third at nationals, and was stoked because the two girls that beat me are both Olympians,” Alesha says.
“But they didn’t apply for Uni Games, which meant that I got in.”
The games, held over two weeks in July, came at the perfect time for Alesha, who has been hitting Personal Best times throughout the 2025 season.
It’s the culmination of years of hard work. Athlete travel to the games is self-funded, so on top of her studies and training, Alesha has been working multiple jobs in order to pay her way.
“I work as a tour guide at the AIS, and I usually run about four tours a week, and then I also work reception at the AIS Aquatic Centre,” she says.
“There isn’t much money in athletics, so I’d say almost all athletes have a separate job.”
Despite the distractions, Alesha has her sights set on the future. She wants to continue competing for Australia internationally, and eventually hopes to see herself at a Commonwealth or Olympic games.
“I plan on running for a very long time,” Alesha says.
“I want to get to the best I can possibly be, and I’d love to compete for Australia internationally again.”
Words by Elly Mackay, photos by Tyler Cherry and supplied.
Alongside Mitchell Baker and Tim Fraser, Alesha was one of three University of Canberra students who competed at the 2025 FISU World University Games.