Olympic and Paralympic stars to shine at luncheon

Five Olympians and Paralympians fresh from Tokyo games success will share their experiences at the Sport Stars of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games Luncheon this month.

The medalists include Blake Cochrane (bronze in the SB7 100m breaststroke), Lakeisha Patterson (gold in the S9 400m freestyle), Ash Moloney (bronze in the decathlon), Logan Martin (gold in the inaugural BMX Freestyle event) and Emily Seebohm (bronze in the 200m backstroke and gold in the women's 4x100m medley relay).

The event, to be held at Eatons Hill Hotel on October 28, will be compered by Olympian Leisel Jones OAM. It includes a two-course lunch and drinks package, panel presentation and post-event networking function.

The Sport Stars of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games Luncheon will be presented by Moreton Bay Region Industry and Tourism (MBRIT) and is proudly supported by Moreton Bay Regional Council.

Life-altering win

BMX freestyle gold medalist Logan Martin says life has changed since he won the inaugural event at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

“I’ve been a bit busier for sure,” he says.

“There’s been heaps of speaking gigs like the Sports Stars lunch and a lot more corporate brands wanting to work together, which is cool. I’m getting noticed a lot more in public.

“I knew how big the Olympics were, but I didn’t think it would give me as much publicity as it has.”

He says he’s won many big events in BMX, but the Olympics gold has been next level.

“I wanted to show what freestyle BMX is to a bigger audience on a different level. I’ve had a lot of positive feedback which us awesome,” he says.

“There’s a lot more kids on bikes, building jumps in their backyards.”

It was that kind of backyard construction, hard work and dedication that resulted in his gold-medal winning performance.

“With anything, you need to put in hard work and stay consistently with it and be fully dedicated to putting in the work,” Martin says.

“That work is different for everyone and each sport.”

When asked what was going through his mind as he put the gold medal around his neck, Martin says it’s a bit of a blur.

“For so long I was in shock that I actually made it happen. I can’t remember exactly what I was thinking,” he says.

Even though he had set himself the goal of competing well at the Tokyo Olympic Games, he still can’t believe he won a gold medal.

“To actually execute and do it is a different thing,” he says.

“It’s super cool. I won the first World Championship as well (in 2017), so to win the first Olympic gold medal as well is awesome.”

Now, it’s back on the bike preparing for other events on the BMX calendar and building on the work he’s done in the past eight years, since he has been competing seriously.

Those include the World Series, World Championships and X Games.

“The bigger goal is to get to Paris. To be a dual Olympian would be awesome,” Martin says.

He’s come a long way since 2008-2009, when he remembers competing in a small event series called Core Series at Redcliffe, Albany Creek and other local skate parks.

“That was my first taste of competition. I was winning these events and thought ‘now I can try to make it in other event series and on the international stage’,” he recalls.

So, what does he love about BMX?

“The freedom it gives me, besides the fact it’s allowed me to travel the world,” he says.

“I’ve always put myself out of my comfort zone, overcoming fear. There’s also that adrenaline rush.”

EVENT DETAILS

What: Sport Stars of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games Luncheon

When: Thursday, October 28. Doors open at 11am for the luncheon from noon-2.30pm. Networking to follow from 2.30-5pm

Where: Eatons Hill Hotel Grand Ballroom

Tickets: $130+bf or $120+bf (table of 10) – includes a two-course lunch

To book, visit the website