Beach volleyballer Taliqua Clancy is used to reality checks when she goes home – especially when her nieces don’t see a medal. But her innate confidence has her primed for gold, writes LACHLAN McKIRDY.
Professional athletes don’t usually lack motivation. But even they can still count on the bluntness of family to deliver the most brutal reality checks.
It’s something Taliqua Clancy receives every time she returns home from a tournament without a medal in tow.
“My aunty Kathleen, my mum’s baby sister, she has our two beautiful little nieces,” Clancy tells CODE Sports.
“So I like to call them up because they gave me a kick up the butt at the start of the year. I came back from an event and I didn’t have a medal with me and they were like, ‘What’s going on Aunty T?’
“Anytime that I get a new little trophy or medal, I make sure they know that it’s coming home to them. They’ve been a bit spoiled!”
Clancy has given her nieces plenty to play with over the last few years, teaming up with Mariafe Artacho del Solar for a heap of success in the world of beach volleyball.
That included gold at the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Challenge event in Portugal this month, their last tournament before the Commonwealth Games.
But there was one medal her nieces weren’t allowed to play with, and not just because of its sentimental value.
“When I brought home the Olympic medal, it’s half a kilo and significantly heavier and more special than a lot of other medals they get,” Clancy says.
“[Their parents] are like, ‘No, no, no’. They gave it back. It wasn’t right because they’d be competing for it.
“So I think it’s important that I can bring home the gold medal this time so they can have a fight over which medal is theirs.”
It’s clear how important family is to Clancy.
The proud Wulli Wulli and Goreng Goreng woman speaks extensively about the significance of community and that all starts with her mum, Shannon. Although she’s not afraid to bring Clancy back to earth either.
“It’s a total village, it’s super special,” Clancy says.
“The part I love is, my mum does get excited but at the same time, she hides it as well. I’ve always appreciated that part, I think that’s what has made me keep that hunger and not get complacent.
“I don’t want to get big-headed. We have enough arrogance. Every athlete has that part otherwise we wouldn’t be doing what we’re doing. We truly believe that we can be the best in the world and no one can stop us.
“We celebrate these moments but it’s not changing everything.”
The medals and trophies that don’t go to her nieces sit proudly in the Kingaroy home of her grandparents.
And while Clancy’s achievements continue to be celebrated, even they seem to participate in what is now a family tradition of making sure she doesn’t get too far ahead of herself.
“They’re extremely proud but I do not think they’re on display.
“I think they’re in a box somewhere!”
*****
The Clancy-Artacho del Solar partnership is seemingly the perfect match.
Having come together as a pair in late 2017 – discounting a few junior tournaments played years earlier – their chemistry has been evident for all to see.
Clancy believes it’s a shared desire to be the best on and off the court that has brought them so much success.
“We definitely have always had [chemistry],” she says.
“I think there are just parts of her fire and my fire that totally align. We have really strong goals and we want to finish our career knowing that we gave it all and that helps with the chemistry.
“We’re here to keep pushing through the uncomfortable moments because it’s definitely not all roses, especially because Covid has made it so much more difficult.
“We don’t hold each other back so the sky’s the limit for us.”
But while they have their own expectations, and their own rooms on tour wherever possible, they’re now cognisant that the public feels the same.
Silver at the Commonwealth Games in 2018 and silver at the Olympics in Tokyo. They’re brilliant achievements to make the last match of two of the biggest international tournaments, but it means the desire to win gold is even greater.
“It’s weirder to have that kind of expectation already from the Australian community but I also relish that,” Clancy says.
“Every athlete’s dream is to eventually become the hunted and we put ourselves in that position and we just embrace anything new that‘s coming our way.
“We love the big moments. We’re definitely a team that loves that big centre court. We get to put on a show.”
In the 12 months since Tokyo, it has been about learning to control the adrenaline associated with the big matches.
They won’t be up against America’s April Ross and Alix Klineman who took the Olympic gold in straight sets from the Australian pair. But there are still plenty of challenging teams who stand in their way if they want to go one better in Birmingham.
“Comm Games is still very special to us because it was very early on in our partnership, it really aligned us up for the results that came.
“We have to have a really patient mindset with the way we go about things. It’s always point by point and we can really plan for that great success and take care of processes.
“Melissa and Sarah [from Canada] will be our strongest competition. I think New Zealand will have a stronger team and Vanuatu are always extremely strong.
“We know now and have the confidence going in that we can beat any team in the world. When we’re on fire, we are unstoppable.”
And it wouldn’t be a big international event for Clancy without the Aboriginal flag painted on her nails that she’s become so famous for.
“I feel like I have to! It’s important for me as well and it just makes me have that extra connection and make it extra special.”
*****
Before going to the Olympics in 2016, Clancy never really considered herself a role model.
She wanted to have an impact on her community, but it took that opportunity to compete on the international stage to open her eyes to the possibilities. And she hasn’t looked back since.
“I think post-Rio was the moment, it was the wake up call,” Clancy says.
“The full focus was to go and compete at your first Olympics and that kind of opened my eyes up to being able to do more and that I have a responsibility to do more.
“But it’s a happy responsibility. It’s definitely not a burden. It’s just I have that expectation on myself to try my best to give back.”
Earlier this year, Clancy was elected to the Australian Olympic Committee’s (AOC) Athletes’ Commission. It’s a group that advises the AOC on issues and concerns from athletes and Clancy becomes the second Indigenous voice sitting on the body alongside boxer Alex Winwood.
She’s seen first-hand the improvements the current era of the AOC has made in terms of recognising Indigenous athletes – in particular establishing the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander advisory board.
Although we saw a record number of Indigenous athletes competing for Australia at the Tokyo Olympics, Clancy knows there is still much more to achieve, something that can be done more efficiently with the right foundations now in place.
“It still feels very educational stepping into that space. It’s incredible with other athletes there that I can learn from and hopefully help build better pathways for other athletes coming through, especially Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders.
“We’re in a very fortunate position as athletes and I feel a huge responsibility to give back. And I think sport is just one of the best platforms to bring everyone together.
“I think the former Olympians have just done an incredible job. Uncle Danny Morseau, Patrick Johnson, Kyle Vander-Kuyp, Becky Smith, they really all came together and just changed everything in a really short period of time.
“I think it‘s definitely moving in the right direction for sure. There’s still elements that are missing because sport is only the beginning to open people’s eyes.
“We’ve still got a long way to go.”
*****
Clancy is young at heart.
Despite turning 30 in June, she has her sights set on competing at the Brisbane Olympics in 2032. A home Olympics would mean the world, with her family able to watch her in the world’s biggest sporting event.
But away from volleyball, Clancy has already considered the impact she could have. And it all reverts back to that love of family and community that has driven her to this day.
“I definitely know that I want to work in Aboriginal health and things like that,” Clancy says.
“I think Deadly Choices empowers everything that I want to work with post my volleyball career. In what area, I’m not too sure yet.
“I’m hoping to go to 2032 so I’ve given myself a little bit of time. I’m super passionate about it, anywhere I can help give back to communities is where my heart lies.”
Working as an ambassador for Deadly Choices has become Clancy’s release from volleyball. When she’s not on the sand, she uses her position to create positive change.
“It doesn’t even feel like work, it just refreshes me”.
But it also allows for reflection.
To think of a young Taliqua Clancy growing up in Kingaroy. To think of what seeing a role model coming back to the community with Olympic medals would mean for her.
If she can pass that message of hope on to just one person, she’ll be happy.
“I’m always willing to get out of my comfort zone and try new things. That‘s definitely what I hope that I am portraying and encouraging because you have got to try new things.
“I still gotta pinch myself even though it‘s everything that I’ve ever dreamt of and set myself up for. I was a very quiet, shy kid, which is kind of crazy if you meet me, now people can’t really get me to shut up.
“It’s the patience and the saying yes and having a go, it‘ll pay off. Don’t limit yourself because there’s still so much more that is possible to achieve.
“Keep taking those opportunities that come, it pays off.”
Lachlan McKirdy is a content producer for CODE Sports who focuses on Cricket, NRL and the Olympic sports. Lachlan has a passion for storytelling and enjoys sharing the incredible stories of athletes performing on the domestic and international stage.
Cody Simpson didn’t win an individual race but his move from pop star to pool has him in the top 10 for the GQ Sportsman of the Year — and rival Kyle Chalmers is a notable absentee.
Britain’s most successful swimmer is chasing a third successive Olympic gold in the same event and knows it won’t come easy.
The Hockeyroos have not won the Olympic gold medal for more than two decades as calls grow louder for a significant change which could turn around fortunes.
The outstanding contribution to swimming by Emma McKeon and her whole family has been recognised at the Swim Coaches and Teachers Australia Awards.
Despite shocking his rivals in an unfamiliar event at trials, Cody Simpson’s path to the Paris Olympics has suffered a setback. See the full team for Australia’s next big meet.
From mentoring and organising younger teammates, to addressing the media commentary that threatened to overshadow Australia’s Commonwealth Games performance, Madi Wilson is the glue that holds the Dolphins together, writes LACHLAN MCKIRDY.
Our Apps