Olympic champions Nina Kennedy and Sally Pearson are set to lead a delegation of 22 prominent Australian track and field athletes during the upcoming Coles Community Round, a nationwide initiative aimed at nurturing the next generation of athletes. Over the next two weeks, these elite athletes will visit grassroots Little Athletics Centres across Australia, engaging young participants and promoting the values of sportsmanship and healthy living.
This year’s Coles Community Round, which runs from November 4 to November 17, marks a significant milestone for Little Athletics, with a record 344 centres participating. The event celebrates Coles’ nine-year partnership with Little Athletics, emphasizing their collective commitment to investing in youth sports through initiatives such as equipment grants, banana donations, and connecting young athletes with their sports idols.
The ambassador appearances come on the heels of a remarkably successful showing by former Little Athletics participants in the recent 2026 Commonwealth Games, where they secured 25 of Australia’s 34 medals. Among those participating in the Coles Community Round are gold medalists Matt Denny and Isaac Beacroft, who will be visiting his old Little Athletics Centre in Quakers Hill. They will be joined by a cohort of distinguished athletes, including former World Champions Kelsey-Lee Barber and Jaryd Clifford, along with Olympians Brandon Starc, Sarah Carli, Cam McEntyre, Ella Connolly, and Stephanie Ratcliffe.
Beyond motivation and encouragement, the Coles and Little Athletics ambassadors will present new equipment to outstanding centres that benefitted from the Coles Little Athletics Community Fund, which has recently surpassed an impressive million in funding. Kelsey-Lee Barber, a Tokyo Olympic bronze medallist, will be making her first public appearance since the birth of her child less than eight months ago. With aspirations for her fourth Olympic Games, Barber expresses her eagerness to interact with young athletes and inspire them to pursue their dreams.
Coles Little Athletics CEO Myles Forman highlighted the importance of this initiative, noting that the record participation and ambassador visits underscore the positive impact of Coles’ ongoing support for grassroots athletics in Australia. He stated that the Coles Community Round effectively bridges the connection between elite athletes and local communities, fostering active lifestyles among children.
Coles has notably contributed to this movement since 2017 by donating over 7 million bananas and distributing sports equipment grants to bolster local Little Athletics programs. These efforts not only facilitate the development of young athletes’ confidence and friendships but also support the families and volunteers dedicated to keeping Little Athletics thriving.
For additional information regarding the ambassador appearances and the participating centres, individuals can visit the Australian Athletics website.