Kalinda Robinson hopes Olympic Young Leader program can improve inclusion for LGBTQI+ community

At its core, sports is about community. It's a vehicle that promotes belonging, inclusion, and unity. However, as rising Australian track cyclist, Kalinda Robinson, knows, the benefits that sport provides, things that many take for granted, remain out of reach for some.

Unlike many, the 21-year-old from Bathurst is doing something about it. Last month, Robinson applied and was successfully selected for the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Young Leaders program, one of 25 young leaders chosen from 5000 applicants. She made the last-minute decision to apply after seeing an advertisement online.

"I love making a difference," Robinson told ABC Sport in Brisbane. "I could see myself always wanting to be involved in sport — not just as an athlete — and this was a perfect avenue for me to get involved in international affairs outside of Australia. And also, working with the IOC? That's pretty cool."

The IOC Young Leaders program, launched in 2016, aims to empower young people to leverage the power of sport to make a positive difference in their communities. Every two years, 25 Young Leaders are selected for a four-year term and receive funding and mentoring support to implement initiatives. According to the IOC, the program has implemented over 140 initiatives to date, benefiting more than 30,000 participants worldwide.

Robinson isn't the first Australian to be selected for the program, with Jemima Montag and Grace Hurley having previously been involved. Robinson is a promising talent in her own right, having won the Oceania Elite Team Sprint title in 2024 and earning a bronze medal at the same event last month. She's not yet sure what form her project will take, but she's made it clear that she wants to help the LGBTQI+ community become better integrated into elite and community sport.

"I put forward a project that focuses on diversity and inclusion… I've got four years, so it's definitely going to evolve over time," she said. Constant evolution is already second nature to Robinson. The 21-year-old grew up in the rural New South Wales town of Bathurst before moving to Adelaide, and now Brisbane, to pursue her career at the Anna Meares Velodrome.

Robinson has previously said that being part of the LGBTQI+ community in a rural area wasn't always easy, but the challenges she faced are common everywhere. "I think there are definitely limited role models (in rural areas), but I think you see that even in the city," Robinson said. "It's definitely getting better now, seeing more people being able to be themselves and be role models for other people."

"But I think there's still a long way to go, especially in sport. I want to get the community more involved, not just the athletes. In (the Australian Institute of Sport's initiative) 'Flourish and Pride,' we focus on improving inclusion and diversity in the elite athlete space, but I want to be able to broaden that out to more people."

Robinson points out that it's a pivotal moment for Australian sport, with Brisbane set to host the Olympics in 2032. The main legacy of any Olympics – although most host cities have found it difficult to achieve – is sustained and increased participation. Robinson says that by including a social group that hasn't traditionally felt welcome in sport, it will only improve the legacy of hosting the Olympics.

"With the Brisbane Olympics coming up in 2032, we want our nation to be more involved in sport," Robinson said. "So, if we want everyone to be involved, and for everyone to feel seen and heard, and provide a space for everyone, that's where my head's at."

Having a space where everyone feels comfortable – regardless of their sexuality – is crucial for both elite environments and community sport. "I think when you have an inclusive space where everyone can be themselves, it's just so much better because you see more people being drawn to that environment," Robinson said. "I think we see that with the A-League Women and the Matildas, from the outside it seems like a really cool space that all different types of people can get involved in."

"I think it can be challenging for anyone, whether you're part of the community, or just feeling like you don't fit in in any type of environment or workplace. If you're feeling a bit out of place and that you're different to everyone else, it feels a bit weird. You might feel a bit excluded. But imagine having a space where you feel included, and you can be yourself and you don't have to hold back, that's where you want to be, so ideally we want every space to be like that."

While the goal is to have a space where everyone feels welcome, Robinson believes it's equally important to recognize that some of the journeys the LGBTQI+ community has been on to feel comfortable are worth celebrating. "I think it's natural for people to want to find community," Robinson said. "Everyone's different and brings different experiences, and it's really special to be able to connect with people who have similar experiences. So, having those spaces where we can bring people together who have similar experiences, or they can connect in those spaces, is really important."

"(People's sexuality) shouldn't be an issue, but at the same time it is important, and it should be recognized that it is non-mainstream… a lot of people have gone through a lot to get to the point where they can be themselves, and it's important for other people to acknowledge that, I think. Whether or not you want to talk about it is a personal choice, but having a space where you can talk about it is important, if you want to."

"Everyone in the world wants to be seen and heard, so just having a space where you can talk about it, if you want to, that's what we want." Robinson firmly believes that her self-assurance is key to her finding comfort in any environment: "I know who I am, and if someone says something, I'm not going to be brought down by it, because I know who I am, and if you don't like it, that's your problem, that's something you need to deal with," she said.

But Robinson points out that if someone is slightly less secure, they might find it harder to deal with criticism, especially in environments that have traditionally been more unwelcoming. "I think there are definitely barriers for men," Robinson said. "Every sport is different, and every sport has its own challenges, but overall, I think there is a disconnect. Sometimes I think, and this is just my personal opinion, but (the reason we don't see gay men in sport) isn't because they're there and not out, it's because they're just not there at all."

"Because they feel like… they just know it's not going to be a safe place for them, so they just don't even bother going through with it, so they drop out of sport at a younger age and go do something that makes them feel safe. I think that's something people should think about, and that's why we need to go back to the grassroots and make those community spaces safer. So, we can have these people grow up, instead of just dropping out."

"To an extent, it's the same with women, although I personally think it's safer for women to be themselves, but it still applies. If I saw the Matildas when I was younger… you never know. It's so awesome to see the role models that they have. You can't force people to be role models, but sometimes it's just not there because they haven't grown up because they haven't had role models to begin with."