Sue Jackson and her son Jack Riek at Brisbane Boys Grammar School in Brisbane’s Spring Hill.
Camera IconSue Jackson and her son Jack Riek at Brisbane Boys Grammar School in Brisbane’s Spring Hill. Credit: News Limited

A rising gymnastics star helps conquer hard times with advice from his psychologist mother

Leanne EdmistoneThe Courier-Mail

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DR SUE JACKSON, 54

Psychologist, Brookfield

When I was at school and university, I loved sport – sprinting, athletics, gymnastics, netball, softball, touch football, then I got into triathlons and power lifting – but I also wanted to do well ­academically. I was interested in how people think and why they do what they do, and sports psych­ology was a developing field at the time. It matched my interests.

I studied human movement at the University of Sydney, then did my Master’s of Science at the University of Illinois, in the US, and my PhD at the University of North Carolina, Greensboro. What came next was a big turning point for me. I was offered an internship at a US Olympic training ­facility to work in sports psychology, and a ­research job at an Australian university. It was a hard call because I most wanted to work with athletes in a practitioner role, but I also wanted to come back to Australia. I chose the university job and so spent a long time in academia. Now I’m back to what I like best, which is working with people.

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I work with people who want to feel ­better about themselves by addressing how they’re doing psychologically. That could be in terms of athletes’ performance, medical doctors training for specialty exams, or a young person struggling to find their way in life. There’s quite a spectrum.

I grew up in the northern suburbs of Sydney, with my dad, now-retired Commodore Malcolm Jackson, 82, now living at Tewantin; Mum, Judith Davis, 83, a retired physical education teacher, still in Sydney; and brother Chris, 57, a tradie in Coffs Harbour. I am divorced with two sons, Jack, 18, and Sean Riek, 17, who divide their time ­between my house and their dad Stephan’s (53). Sean is about to finish Year 12, while Jack is studying psychology at university.

Both boys do gymnastics, and I totally support both my sons’ involvement in the sport. I admire Jack’s sense of ­humour and ability to persevere with ­challenging situations. He was diagnosed with diabetes last year as a 17-year-old, very fit, talented ­athlete and has had more than his fair share of injuries, but he’s not given up.

I have great determination and persistence, and I see that in Jack. He’s the one who has made all the choices along the way to do what he’s done. We enjoy having a meal together and listening to music. Jack and I both love rock music.

JACK RIEK, 18

Gymnast, Brookfield

I started gymnastics when I was in preschool. As a boy, I had a lot of energy, I was always moving around and climbing on stuff, so mum got me involved in sport. In Grade Six, when I started at Brisbane Grammar School, I started to get serious about it. I train 25 hours a week; basically every day except Sunday. I love the challenge of the sport, but also the feeling of overcoming a challenge, like learning a new skill. It’s a good feeling.

As a junior athlete I got to represent Australia twice overseas, and now I’m moving into the elite senior gymnastics. On December 10, I’m going to be trialling to compete in the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games. My favourite apparatus is the rings, that’s what I’m best at, but I compete on all the apparatus. This will be my first opportunity to represent Australia at a senior level. I’m a little bit nervous going up against the older guys but I’m just keen to see how I do, get some experience and whatever happens, happens.

I’ve had injuries to just about every part of my body but that’s how it goes in sport. Most recently I had torn ligaments in my knee and ankle on the same leg. I was meant to compete in the FIG World Challenge Cup in Paris in September, but couldn’t go. It was disappointing, but there’s always the next thing. I’d love to represent Australia at the Games, the World Championships and maybe the Olympics one day. That would be amazing.

Last year I was getting tired all the time, couldn’t see properly and was always thirsty, I just wasn’t feeling right so I eventually went to the doctor. I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes – it happens in a lot of young people, they don’t know what causes it, but it’s nothing to do with diet or lifestyle. It was pretty horrible at the time. I didn’t know how it was going to affect my life or my gymnastics.

I just had to accept it and not reminisce over what could have been. It’s just something that I have to manage; I can’t ignore it. I have to be aware of my blood glucose levels, have multiple daily insulin shots and always carry lollies in case my levels get too low. I usually have (jelly) Snakes. Having diabetes has probably taught me a bit about perseverance; it doesn’t mean you can’t still achieve a few goals.

I’m not sure what career I’d like outside of gymnastics. I tried architecture last year, but wasn’t too passionate about it. Now I’m studying a Bachelor of Arts (psychology) at Queensland University of Technology, which I seem to enjoy much more. I need something to fall back on, because I can’t do gym forever. It can be a hard juggle sometimes, especially during periods of assessment, but that’s just the way it is, I guess.

Mum’s always there for me. Even when we’re not getting along, I always know she’ll be looking out for me, so that’s comforting to know she’s always supporting me with whatever I want to do. People sometimes ask me how she helps me given her career. Because she’s my mum, it’s a little bit awkward, I don’t really want to get into that with her. It’s not like she sits me down and gives me mental advice or anything. It’s just the way she lives her life and knowing what she does, that rubs off on me a little bit.

I love music and still play the piano occasionally. My schedule is pretty full-on but when I can, I like getting out into nature and experimenting with photography. That’s what so good about photography – it’s so different to everything else I do, so it’s a nice escape and something else I can put my focus into.

Originally published as Setbacks no bar to success