Two Winter Olympians have been awarded Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) and Griffith University Sports Scholarships as they balance sporting ambitions with higher education.
Snowboard cross athletes Mia Clift and James Johnstone are the latest recipients of the prestigious scholarships.
The athletes have been welcomed into the Griffith Sports College community, which has supported hundreds of student-athletes to combine elite training and competition with university studies.
Griffith Sports College Director Naomi McCarthy OAM OLY said the scholarship recipients were among four Griffith students who competed at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
“The flexibility and support offered through Griffith Sports College helps athletes like Mia and James pursue their sporting ambitions while continuing their studies,” Ms McCarthy said.
Griffith University was the first institution recognised as an Australian Olympic Pathway University and has produced more Olympians than any other Australian university across the past three Olympic Games.
Studying a Bachelor of Business, Mia Clift began snow sports at age five and has established herself as one of Australia’s leading snowboard cross athletes.
She won silver at the 2025 FIS Freestyle Ski and Snowboarding World Championships and represented Australia at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano-Cortina.
“I believe it is extremely important for athletes not to tie their identity solely to sport,” Ms Clift said.
“I’d like to have other opportunities outside of sport, and studying helps ensure I have another pathway for the future.
“The support provided by the AOC and Griffith University demonstrates the importance they place on developing athletes as individuals, both during and beyond their sporting careers.”
As one of Australia’s rising snowboard cross athletes, James Johnstone won gold in the mixed team event at the 2023 Junior World Championships and represented Australia at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
He is studying a Bachelor of Communication and aspires to build a career in sports media after competition, drawing on his experience as an elite athlete.
“Juggling training and study isn’t always easy, especially in a season where I’m trying to push up the rankings, so having the AOC and Griffith back me like this takes a real bit of pressure off,” Mr Johnstone said.
“It lets me give both things a proper go instead of feeling like I have to sacrifice one for the other.
“The support for elite athletes from the sports college at Griffith is exceptional, and that was a massive part of why choosing to study here was a no brainer for me.
“After being solely focused on sport since finishing high school, I can start to work on my post-sport career while competing – which has been made incredibly easy thanks to this scholarship.”
Applications for the next round of Australian Olympic Committee and Griffith University Sports Scholarships are now open. More information is available here.
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Naomi McCarthy
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