The 3 Greatest Lightbulb Moments I Took Away from My Conversation with Jemima Montag By Sarah Wall

Published on August 13, 2025

What do you get when you cross a two-time Olympian with a future doctor? A whole lot of honesty, insight, and purpose.

I recently sat down with Jemima Montag for one of the most grounding and inspiring conversations I’ve had. We spoke about juggling elite sport and medical studies, growing through setbacks, and the deeper “why” behind it all. Jemima is thoughtful, driven, and fiercely intentional—not just about her performance, but about who she is becoming through the process.

Here are the three biggest lightbulb moments I took from our chat. Whether you’re an athlete, coach, parent or just figuring out your next move, these ideas are worth sitting with.

1. Pressure Is a Privilege—And a Sign of Belief

Jemima shared something her sports psychologist once told her that gave me chills: “Pressure is the price of entry to high performance.”

We often try to avoid pressure, resent it, or let it weigh us down. But Jemima reminded me that pressure means someone believes in you—maybe even you believe in you. That reframe is powerful. Pressure doesn’t have to crush you. It can sharpen you.

“We can’t expect global-level outcomes without pressure. It’s the ticket to the opportunity.” – Jemima Montag

2. You Are Not Just an Athlete

Jemima’s identity work hit home. For too long, many of us tie our self-worth to results, selections, or stats. But the question she now asks—and encourages others to ask—is: Who are you, beyond what you do?

She shared a simple but powerful exercise:

What do I do?
Who am I?
What do I value?

This work helped her unhook her identity from performance and show up with more freedom. My favourite quote from her:

“Those are the permanent things.”

If you haven’t done this reflection before—start. Today.

3. Confidence Comes From Competence (And Enjoyment)

This one was especially relevant to our younger Netfitters. Jemima believes we put too much pressure on young girls to be “confident” when really what we should be focusing on is effort, joy, and competence.

“Confidence is great, but it’s fleeting. Skill and consistency? That’s what will carry you.”

She challenged coaches, parents, and schools to celebrate effort over excellence—especially in those crucial 12–18 years when so many girls drop out of sport. Let them fall in love with the game, not the outcome.

Final Word
When I asked Jemima what the world needs more of, she said:

“More agency and intentionality.”

More people choosing to be part of the solution. More people believing they can change their situation. And more girls—no matter the barriers—knowing they’re enough.

Thanks Jemima, for reminding us that our purpose can run deeper than podiums. You’ve given us all something real to hold onto.

If this resonated with you, share it with a teammate.

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