'Distressing' bushfires kick-started award winner Cowley

Rhydian Cowley won Olympic bronze in Paris

"Distressing" Australian bushfires kick-started BBC Green Sport Award's World Athlete of the Year Rhydian Cowley on a "journey" to climate-change advocacy.

The race walker, who won a bronze medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics, has had to learn how to balance life as a professional athlete alongside work to promote environmental sustainability.

"Climate change has been something I was aware of growing up for a long time, but in 2019 and 2020 in Australia we had these massive bushfires that raged for months and months," Cowley told BBC Sport.

"We called it the 'Black Summer'. Cities like Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane were just choked in smoke for a lot of days and it was almost toxic to just set foot outside, which was really distressing as an athlete."

In the past 12 months, the 33-year-old has become a spokesperson for the Rings of Fire report, sharing his personal experiences with heat and competition to highlight the impact of climate change on athletes.

"During Covid, when we were stuck inside with time to think about things, I realised climate change isn't going to solve itself," he said.

"I can't just wait for someone else to do it. I need to get out there and help.

"That time started my journey."

Scientists say many extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and intense as a result of climate change.

At the 2023 World Athletic Championships in Budapest, Cowley suffered the effects of high temperatures and humidity when he collapsed and was unable finish his 35km race.

"Sportspeople around the world are affected in different ways by climate change, and in Australia, being on the frontline of extreme heat in particular, that has been a real motivation for me to take action," he said.

"Endurance athletes in outdoor events are particularly susceptible to heatwaves and pollution in general.

"I was lucky to be able to recover well, and this year I have come back and won an Olympic bronze medal, but I do know athletes who haven't been so lucky when they have experienced heatstroke."

'It is difficult to know where to start'

Cowley is an ambassador for a number of sport and sustainability organisations, and has participated in high-profile initiatives to mobilise athletes globally.

He has also partnered with schools and community groups to promote environmental education, inspiring young athletes to incorporate sustainability into their sports and lives.

But finding and working with other athletes has been key for the Australian.

"It's really helpful having a group that you share these values with and you can stand together with. It makes you not alone," he said.

"I think some athletes don't feel like they know enough to speak out on climate change and athletes are notorious perfectionists in this sense.

"I would remind them that people weren't born Olympic medallists, they build that up over time, so being prepared to start somewhere is really important.

"Climate change can feel so overwhelming, it is difficult to know where to start and what to do, so I would encourage people to find something they are comfortable with to start there. Even if it is small, it still helps."