Friendship bracelets inspire Camryn’s lifelong dream

For University of Southern Queensland (UniSQ) Elite Athlete Camryn Newton-Smith, her source of inspiration is only an arm’s length away.

The 24-year-old has qualified for the Paris Games after being named in Australia’s track and field team.

The heptathlete has numerous friendship bracelets on her right wrist, including one that reads “Paris,” which she made earlier this year.

But it’s a different bracelet that will hold the most meaning in France.

“The first bracelet I made has the words ‘day by day’, which I did just after I had surgery on my ruptured Achilles in 2021,” Newton-Smith said.

“I was lying in bed with a cast on. I couldn’t walk, I couldn’t move. It was the worst time of my life. I was even contemplating giving up athletics.

“I wasn’t very positive at all, but my roommate at the time said, ‘You just have to take it day by day’.

“I thought, I’m going to put that on a bracelet to remind me that you must have some faith.

“I kept making more (bracelets) to give me little reminders when I needed extra motivation.

“I have literally never taken them off, even during training or competitions. They’ve helped so much.”

Newton-Smith hopes the bracelets will be her lucky charm when she travels to Paris to compete in the women’s heptathlon and chase gold.

The heptathlon is a gruelling multi-discipline event that includes the 200m, high jump, 800m, 100m hurdles, long jump, shot put and javelin.

Newton-Smith, studying a Master of Learning and Teaching at UniSQ to become a teacher, claimed her spot after a breakthrough season, including victories at the 2024 Australian Athletics Championships and the 2024 Oceania Athletics Championships.

Coached by her dad, Ralph Newton, and Gavin Hunter (sprints), Newton-Smith and fellow Queenslander Tori West are Australia’s first heptathlon representatives in 16 years.

“It’s a dream come true,” she said.

“It’s something I’ve been working toward since I started the sport.

“After winning Nationals this year, I felt like it was becoming more and more of a possibility, and I had a 'why not me' moment.”

Born in Beaudesert, Newton-Smith’s love for athletics started at an early age when she watched her older siblings at the Jimboomba Little Athletics Centre.

Now she’s about to compete against her idols Anna Hall and Katarina Johnson-Thompson on the biggest stage.

“My goal in Paris is to take everything in and learn as much as I can from the experience, but if I can achieve some personal bests while I’m there, then that’s more than I could ask for,” Newton-Smith said.

Newton-Smith will be joined in Paris by fellow UniSQ student Stewart McSweyn who was selected for the 1500m and 5000m events.