Amy Gillett#Foundation
{{Short description|Australian rower and cyclist (1976–2005)}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox sportsperson
| name = Amy Gillett
| image =
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| birth_name = Amy Elizabeth Safe
| full_name = Amy Elizabeth Gillett
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| birth_date = {{birth date|1976|1|9|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Adelaide, South Australia
| death_date = {{death date and age|2005|7|18|1976|1|9|df=yes}}
| death_place = Zeulenroda, Thuringia, Germany
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File:Amy_Gillett_Bikeway_near_Woodside_07.JPG
Amy Elizabeth Gillett ({{née|Safe}}; 9 January 1976 – 18 July 2005) was an Australian track cyclist and rower who represented Australia in both sports. She was killed when a driver crashed into the Australian squad of cyclists with whom she was training in Germany.{{cite Sports-Reference |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/sa/amy-safe-1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418085009/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/sa/amy-safe-1.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=18 April 2020 |title=Amy Gillett |accessdate=21 September 2018}} The Amy Gillett Foundation was established in order to fund road safety programs and provide scholarships for young female cyclists.
Life
Gillett was born in Adelaide{{cite news|title=From Olympic rower to cycling world champion|url=https://www.theage.com.au/news/sport/from-olympic-rower-to-cycling-world-champion/2005/07/19/1121538953341.html|accessdate=19 January 2011|newspaper=The Age, Melbourne|date=19 July 2005}} and was educated at Annesley College.{{cite news |date=14 August 2007 |title=Road safety program launched |newspaper=Adelaide Advertiser |url=http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/road-safety-program-launched/story-e6frea83-1111114189814 |accessdate=19 January 2011 |archive-date=9 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120609142030/http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/road-safety-program-launched/story-e6frea83-1111114189814 |url-status=dead }} She was a world champion junior rower, winning a gold medal in the coxless pair in the Junior World Championships in 1993 and the women's single scull in 1994.{{cite web|title=Australian Medallists |url=http://www.rowingaustralia.com.au/comp_intl_medals.shtm |publisher=Rowing Australia |accessdate=19 January 2011 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717032602/http://www.rowingaustralia.com.au/comp_intl_medals.shtm |archivedate=17 July 2011 }} She came fifth in the single scull in the Nations Cup held in Paris the same year.{{cite web|title=1994 Nations Cup— Paris France|url=http://www.rowinghistory-aus.info/world-u23-championships/1994-Paris.php|publisher=Guerin-Foster History of Australian Rowing|accessdate=19 January 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812203747/http://www.rowinghistory-aus.info/world-u23-championships/1994-Paris.php|archive-date=12 August 2014|url-status=dead}}
At 20, she was a member of the Australian women's eight at the Atlanta Olympics. She was coached by Simon Gillett during her rowing career and later married him in January 2004, moving to Mount Helen near Ballarat, Victoria. After failing to make the Australian rowing team for the Sydney Olympics she quit the sport but was identified as a cyclist with potential. She was an Australian Institute of Sport rowing and cycling scholarship holder.[http://www.ausport.gov.au/ais/history/achievements/olympics AIS Athletes at the Olympics] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606223207/http://www.ausport.gov.au/ais/history/achievements/olympics |date=6 June 2011 }}
In 2002, Gillett was first in the Individual Pursuit Australian Titles, held in Victoria.{{cite web|title=Amy Gillett |url=http://www.cycling.org.au/default.asp?id=8753 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121129093132/http://www.cycling.org.au/default.asp?id=8753 |url-status=dead |archive-date=29 November 2012 |publisher=Cycling Australia |accessdate=19 January 2011 }} From 2002 to 2005, she was a member of the Australian Institute of Sport elite cycling squad and represented Australia in the 2002 and 2003 Cycling World Cups. While she was not a member of the Australian cycling team for the 2004 Athens Olympics, her results during 2005 were steadily improving including a third place in the 2005 Road Time Trial Australian Open Titles. She was rated as one of the top 100 women road cyclists at the time of her death and Australian cycling officials had identified her as a potential medallist in the 2006 Commonwealth Games in the time trial.{{cite news|title=Aust team cyclist killed in Germany|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200507/s1417309.htm|accessdate=19 January 2011|newspaper=ABC News|date=19 July 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110122231211/http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200507/s1417309.htm|archive-date=22 January 2011|url-status=dead}} Gillett was also undertaking a doctorate at the University of South Australia at the time of her death.
Death
Gillett died after a collision near Zeulenroda, Thuringia, Germany, on 18 July 2005, when a young driver lost control of her car and drove head first into six members of the Australian women's cycling squad, who were preparing for the Thüringen Rundfahrt der Frauen stage race.{{cite web |date=24 July 2005 |title=We're on the mend, say riders |url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/were-on-the-mend-say-riders-20050724-ge0kg1.html |access-date=2 January 2024 |publisher=The Age, Melbourne}}{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/cycling/4695385.stm|title=Cycling ace killed while training|date=19 July 2005|work=BBC Sport}} Five of Gillett's Australian teammates suffered injuries, most very serious. Katie Brown, Lorian Graham, Kate Nichols, Alexis Rhodes, and Louise Yaxley were taken immediately to hospital, with Rhodes and Yaxley suffering major trauma. Graham and Brown had incurred fractures and Nichols had torn tendons requiring surgery. The newly-qualified driver was fined €1,440 and disqualified from driving for eight months.{{cite news|url=https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/ais-crash-verdict-german-law-was-applied|title=AIS crash verdict: "German law was applied"|first=Hedwig |last=Kröner |date=7 February 2006|work=cyclingnews.com}}
Foundation
Simon Gillett and the Australian Cycling Federation subsequently established the Amy Gillett Foundation.{{cite web | title=Former Olympian Amy Gillett's mother urges drivers to use 'Dutch Reach' to protect cyclists|first =Nethma|last =Dandeniya| website=ABC News | date=6 April 2024 | url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-04-06/mother-of-amy-gillett-continues-cyclist-safety-advocacy-work/103646436 | access-date=5 April 2024}}
- provide financial support for the rehabilitation of Gillett's five injured team members;
- fund and administer a scholarship program for young women cyclists to support their sporting and academic endeavours
- support and promote projects aimed at road safety awareness amongst cyclists and motorists
In 2018, the way the scholarship was awarded and operated changed, as Cycling Australia pulled direct support for the Australian development teams with whom the scholarship recipient would have normally.{{cite news|last1=Giuliani|first1=Simone|title=Brown awarded Amy Gillett scholarship, Wiggle High5 provides development spot |url=https://cyclingtips.com/2018/04/brown-awarded-amy-gillette-scholarship-wiggle-high5-provides-development-spot/|accessdate=8 May 2018|work=Ella CyclingTips|date=19 April 2018|archive-date=19 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180419053318/https://cyclingtips.com/2018/04/brown-awarded-amy-gillette-scholarship-wiggle-high5-provides-development-spot/|url-status=dead}} Previously the scholarship recipient was selected by a panel from applications to the foundation, but in 2018 recipient was selected to race as a part of professional team {{UCI team code|WHT|2018}}.{{cite news|title=Grace Brown announced as 2018 Amy Gillette Cycling Scholar |url=http://www.amygillett.org.au/grace-brown-announced-as-2018-amy-gillett-cycling-scholar|accessdate=8 May 2018|work=Amy Gillett Foundation|date=19 April 2018}}{{cite news|last1=de Neef|first1=Matt|title=Lizzie Williams wins Amy Gillett Cycling Scholarship after 10-year hiatus |url=https://cyclingtips.com/2014/06/lizzie-williams-wins-amy-gillett-cycling-scholarship-after-10-year-hiatus/|accessdate=8 May 2018|work=Ella CyclingTips|date=13 June 2018}} The Australian national development team itself had its own selection process prior to 2018.{{cite news|last1=Palmer|first1=Tom|title=The extreme methods and measures at the Australian women's development team selection camp |url=https://cyclingtips.com/2015/04/extreme-methods-australian-womens-selection-camp/|accessdate=8 May 2018|work=Ella CyclingTips|date=29 April 2015}}{{cite news |last1=Duffy |first1=Conor |last2=Stewart-Moore |first2=Tom |date=14 May 2015 |title='Hunger Games' for elite cyclists where only the toughest make the cut |work=7:30 Report |publisher=ABC |url=https://www.abc.net.au/7.30/hunger-games-for-elite-cyclists-where-only-the/6470762 |accessdate=8 May 2018}}{{dead link|date=November 2023}}
Wiggle Amy's Gran Fondo cycling event, which benefited the foundation, was held in September along the Great Ocean Road, between Lorne and Skenes Creek. It is one of the only cycling events in Australia held on a fully closed road.{{cn|date=April 2024}}
The foundation closed, in early 2024 due to lack of funding. Gillett's mother, Mary Safe, started collaborating with the Get Home Safe Foundation on a campaign to educate drivers to use the "Dutch Reach" when getting out of their vehicle, to better protect cyclists. In September 2024 the foundation was rescued from liquidation after receiving a number of large donations.{{cite news |last1=Le Grand |first1=Chip |title=How the Amy Gillett Foundation got back on its bike |url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/how-the-amy-gillett-foundation-got-back-on-its-bike-20240911-p5k9oe.html |access-date=1 October 2024 |work=Sydney Morning Herald |date=13 September 2024}}
Recipients of the Amy Gillett Scholarship include:{{cite web|url=http://www.amygillett.org.au/programs-resources/scholarships|title=Scholarships|publisher=Amy Gillett Foundation|accessdate=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306030510/http://www.amygillett.org.au/programs-resources/scholarships|archive-date=6 March 2016|url-status=dead}}
- 2019 Sarah Gigante{{cite web |last1=Dalton |first1=Sarah |title=Sarah Gigante awarded 2019 Amy Gillett Scholarship |url=http://www.amygillett.org.au/sarah-gigante-awarded-2019-amy-gillett-scholarship |website=Amy Gillett Foundation |date=23 October 2019 |accessdate=3 November 2019}}
- 2018 Grace Brown
- 2017 Lucy Kennedy
- 2016 Louisa Lobigs
- 2015 Kimberley Wells
- 2014 Lizzie Williams
- 2013 Jessica Mundy
- 2012 Jessica Allen
- 2011 Joanne Hogan
- 2010 Rachel Neylan
- 2009 Amber Halliday
- 2008 Carlee Taylor
- 2007 Carla Ryan
- 2006 Jessie MacLean
Rail trail
In January 2010, the Amy Gillett Bikeway was opened at Oakbank, South Australia.{{cite web|title=Amy Gillett Rail Trail (Stage 1) Official Opening (SA)|url=http://www.railtrails.org.au/archive-2010/73-amy-gillett-rail-trail-stage-1-official-opening-sa|publisher=Railtrails Australia|accessdate=19 July 2012|archive-date=24 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120324165037/https://www.railtrails.org.au/archive-2010/73-amy-gillett-rail-trail-stage-1-official-opening-sa|url-status=dead}} The trail follows a section of the former Mount Pleasant railway line.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{World Rowing|9489|Amy Safe}}
- {{Olympics.com|amy-safe|Amy Safe|org_archive=1}}
- {{Olympedia|35335|Amy Safe|org_archive=1}}
- {{AOC profile|amy-gillett|Amy Gillett}}
- [http://www.amygillett.org.au Amy Gillett Foundation]
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gillett, Amy}}
Category:Australian female cyclists
Category:Australian female rowers
Category:Australian expatriate sportspeople in Germany
Category:Rowers at the 1996 Summer Olympics
Category:Cycling road incident deaths
Category:Sportswomen from South Australia
Category:Sportspeople from Ballarat
Category:Road incident deaths in Germany
Category:Australian Institute of Sport cyclists
Category:Cyclists from Adelaide
Category:Olympic rowers for Australia