ICE HOCKEY: WITH Covid-19 infection numbers gradually diminishing and sporting activities starting to return to some normality, ice hockey’s Kayla Herbolario is looking to get back on the ice in preparation to going back to the Philippines and joining teammates of the Philippine national team.
In the meantime, Kayla (pictured) are was waiting for confirmation on whether the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) Challenge Cup of Asia 2021 (CCOA) will push through for 2022.
In 2019, the Philippines won gold in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
“We are looking forward to defending our title,” says Kayla. “I am back training on the ice two times a week while my coach back in Philippines gives me homework and a training plan that I need to follow while I am here in Sydney.”
Kayla makes sure to train off the ice by going to the gym and doing conditioning workout six times a week, with Sunday being a rest and recovery day.
“Meantime, I have been able to work on my career as a sports mentor to young female athletes,” Kayla says.
“Stef Strack, a former VP for Nike, reached out to me via social media and asked me to be a part of her team and the company she created called ‘Voice In Sport’.
“It’s an organisation that helps promote female athletes as well as equality for women in all aspects.
“I jumped on board immediately. I always wished I had a mentor growing up especially playing in a rough, male-dominated sport.
“I never had a chance to have one, so now I am truly honoured to be able to do that to young female athletes who want to have sports as a career.”
Kayla is helping Voice In Sport expand and grow bigger as she truly believes in what the organisation is doing and helping other people because that had always been her goal.
“Which is also why I started my own platform called Athletes Podium, where we help athletes get the attention and support they deserve,” she says.
“Sport is a universal language; It can bring people together, no matter what their origin, background, religious beliefs or economic status.
“It’s a great way to use it as a platform to promote social good and things that matter most in the world.” Kayla is using her experience in sport to give a helping hand to athletes who want to make it professionally. *
