Champions Of Change: Imogen Ayris

HIA #219 Imogen Ayris is a powerhouse pole vaulter from New Zealand.

Jumping onto the scene at 13 from a background in gymnastics, two years later becoming the youngest NZ female to clear 4 metres. Securing several national titles along the way. A highlight of her career was in 2022 where she brought home bronze from the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, despite competing with a fractured foot. She also got into the vaulting finals at the Paris Olympics alongside fellow NZ vaulters HIA #224 Eliza McCartney and Olivia McTaggart.

As of February 2025, Ayris achieved a personal best of 4.67 meters in pole vaulting and currently working towards her first World Indoor Championships in China. We’re lucky to have had a chat with her to get to know the story and practises behind her success.

Hi Imogen.

Hey Marcus.

What advice would you give your younger self when you started your career?

To enjoy the journey. Take time to reflect on where you are and how far you’ve come. Enjoy the highs and ride the wave when things are going well. Equally, learn from the lows and remember that it’s a small moment in time and a bump in the road that helps shape you as the athlete you become.

Imogen at the Paris Olympics

What’s something you wish more people understood about the life of a pro athlete?

That it never turns off. What I choose to eat, when I choose to eat, making sure I get enough sleep, not taking unnecessary risks, scared of getting sick, scared of getting injured, resting enough between sessions, being physically and mentally sharp every session, training enough, not training too much... it's in everything I do all the time.

How do you mentally reset after a tough loss?

Allow yourself to be upset! It's a normal emotion to feel and shows how much you care, and value what you're doing - and that should be respected. After letting out the frustration and emotion I then use it as motivation to be hungry for more, learning from the experience. Trying to think practically, analyse and make decisions while it's still raw and before I've allowed myself to be emotional never ends well.

The best piece of advice you've ever received?

Control the controllables.

What is the most unexpected lesson your sport has taught you about life?

That you are going to fail, a lot. Even the best to ever do it, but that's what makes them great. It's about how you handle yourself in those situations, what you learn from them, and how you allow yourself to grow and be better because of them.

Has there been a fan interaction or message that’s left a lasting impact on you?

It's always the young girls! It's a full circle moment for me because I see myself in them, just a young girl with a big dream and so much ahead of them. Knowing that I am an inspiration to some of these girls, ironically, is so inspiring to me.

How has competing in different countries and cultures impacted you as a person?

Competing at this level has allowed me to see the world. But it's not in the places I've been, but the people I've met and connections I've made, that have had an impact on me. Meeting people, and spending time with people from all over the world has taught me to be more empathetic. Connecting with such a diverse group of people, and at times when emotions are high in a competitive environment, makes you realise that we are all so different - but still the same. Everybody has their own story, motivations, and problems that they are working through.

What personal cause or issue are you most passionate about outside of your sport, and why?

The way that health outcomes are heavily correlated to socioeconomic status, driven by the inequality in medical support and health interventions in developing nations. Infectious diseases disproportionally affect vulnerable populations where rich countries (and rich communities within countries) hold multiple resources - such as vaccinations - for themselves.
"Pathogens thrive on inequality".

Thanks for sharing your compassionate yet critical insights with us Imogen, we wish you luck at the World Indoor Champs next week!

To follow Imogen @imogen_ayris