We are delighted that Hayley is part of our BRIT Ambassador family and championing the annual BRIT Challenge to support and improve young adult mental health and fitness throughout the UK.
Hayley competed as an elite diver and specialised in individual and synchronised springboard events. She won the bronze medal, along with her partner Tandi Gerrard, in the women’s 3 metre synchronised springboard event at the 2006 Commonwealth Games. Hayley represented Great Britain 32 times and also achieved 10 Great Britain National titles. She represented Great Britain, with Tandi, at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.
“Working with young adults with mental health conditions and learning difficulties, coaching diving to children and young adults, and as a former student myself, I have first-hand knowledge and experience of the physical and mental health challenges that many young adults struggle to cope with.
The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted on the existing mental health challenges that young adults and students face and the demand for support from mental health services and charities is increasing; this is not a short-term need and it is vital that charities receive our support to enable them to continue their work. I am delighted that BRIT are continuing to adopt a collaborative strategy and partner, or enter special relationships, with education and sport governing bodies and charities.
The BRIT Challenge is a super opportunity to help support and improve young adult mental health and fitness throughout the UK. It is great to see that the BRIT Challenge has been designed to be inclusive and enables students and staff of all abilities to take part; this is particularly important for young adults with mental health challenges and learning difficulties, so they can contribute their distances and feel part of their team’s efforts. I hope every UK university, college, specialist college and Students’ Union embraces the BRIT Challenge, enters teams and encourages their students and staff to take part.
I urge my fellow retired and current Olympians, Paralympians and athletes to join our BRIT Ambassador family and unite to encourage universities and colleges to enter teams in the BRIT Challenge, destigmatise mental health and champion equality, diversity and inclusion.
I look forward to supporting students and staff at the University of Hertfordshire, The Open University, Hertford Regional College and North Hertfordshire College as they take on their BRIT Challenge.”
Hayley Sage OLY
Olympian, Commonwealth medallist and British Champion
In the course of her career as an elite athlete, Hayley won 26 County Championship titles representing Hertfordshire, won 10 Great Britain National titles and represented Great Britain 32 times at international events.
A great deal of her strength and conditioning preparation took place at the University of Hertfordshire.
Hayley specialised in individual and synchronised springboard events. She won bronze, with her partner Tandi Gerrard, in the women’s 3 metre synchronised springboard event at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Australia. Hayley and Tandi competed in the same event at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China.
With over 20 years of diving experience, Hayley has worked with elite athletes including six years as a Performance Diving Coach; her coaching successes include National Age Group and National Skills Champions and medallists in UK diving competitions.
Between 2014 and 2017, Hayley was the Development Officer at the Inspire Sports Centre, Luton, where she coached competitive divers from the age of 5 years old up to 16 years old; she was also the Swim 21 coordinator and responsible for the safeguarding of children.
Hayley has been a Fina International Diving Judge for over eight years at events including the World Cup 2016 Olympic qualifiers, Youth Olympic Games, European Games, European Championships, European Junior Championships, Grand Prix Circuit and GB Nationals.
Hayley studied Health and Social Care at Hertfordshire Regional College, between 2011 and 2012, and North Herts College between 2013 and 2014.
Hayley recently completed a Level 4 Higher Education Certificate in Psychology with the Open University.
Hayley works with young adults with mental health conditions and learning difficulties, helping them access as many opportunities they can to transition into adulthood and enable them to live the best quality of life.
Hayley is a huge supporter for mental health and wellbeing, having experienced her own personal challenges.
In her spare time, Hayley has been a natural disaster volunteer with Smart Response; rebuilding homes and schools that have been demolished through natural disaster, making a difference to less fortunate countries and helping to provide a better life for those that need it the most.
For more information about swimming in Great Britain, please visit the British Swimming website.
You can follow Hayley on Twitter.