51 athletes supported to pursue sport and study with AIS Athlete Education Scholarship

Fresh off representing the nation at the 2026 Commonwealth Games, Australian Diamond Cara Koenen is continuing to develop her skills off the court with support from an Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) Athlete Education Scholarship.

The Glasgow 2026 bronze medallist and Birmingham 2022 gold medallist is one of 51 athletes receiving a scholarship this year, which provides up to $5000 in funding to high performance athletes pursing elite sport alongside study.

Delivered in partnership with former Australian Sports Commission Chair John Wylie AC's charity, the John and Myriam Wylie Foundation, the AIS Athlete Education Scholarship supports holistic athlete development by helping athletes not only prepare for life after sport but also enhance their performance whilst still competing.

For Koenen, the scholarship is supporting her Graduate Diploma in Medical Ultrasound at Queensland University of Technology as she works towards becoming a qualified sonographer.

"I am a huge advocate for maintaining a balance between sporting commitments and life outside of sport," Koenen said.

"I am already so excited about the avenues for growth it opens up and I believe that getting outside my comfort zone will only improve my capacity as an athlete, teammate and leader."

Fellow 2026 scholarship recipients include Glasgow Commonwealth Games gold medallist swimmer Iona Anderson 2026 Water Polo World Cup Finals bronze medallist Sienna Hearn and Olympian and two-time world champion diver Cassiel Rousseau, who is using his psychology studies to better understand the mental skills that underpin elite performance.

"Over the years, I have become increasingly aware of how mindset, resilience, focus and emotional regulation directly influence performance outcomes. Studying psychology allows me to better understand this, both within myself and within others," Rousseau said.

"The scholarship not only assists with education costs but also allows me to focus on ensuring I can continue representing my sport and my community at the highest level."

Since 2020, the AIS Athlete Education Scholarship program has supported 278 athletes with more than $850,000 towards their education. This year's cohort spans 22 universities and TAFEs across the country and represents 22 national sporting organisations.

That support is set to continue through to the LA 2028 Games, with the AIS and John and Myriam Wylie Foundation committing to a further two years of the program.

"The AIS Athlete Education Scholarship is a great example of what Win Well looks like in action," AIS Director Matti Clements said.

"We know athletes perform at their best when they are supported to grow as people, pursue interests beyond sport and build confidence in their skills and abilities outside of competition."

"We're incredibly grateful to John and Myriam Wylie and the Foundation for their support over the past five years and look forward to continuing that partnership as we support athletes on the path to LA 2028."

Director of the John and Myriam Wylie Foundation, John Wylie AC added: "Congratulations to this year's scholarship recipients. The commitment required to balance elite sport and further education is significant, and we commend each athlete for embracing that challenge.

"Over the past five years, we've seen firsthand the impact these scholarships can have, helping athletes continue their studies while competing at the highest level and creating opportunities that extend well beyond sport.

"We're delighted to continue supporting the program and look forward to seeing what this year's recipients achieve."

Learn more about the Athlete Education Scholarship and 2026 recipients.