We are thrilled to announce that Layne Beachley has been appointed as an Athlete Liaison Officer (ALO) for the London 2012 Australian Olympic Team. There are now four appointed ALOs accompanying the Australian Olympic Team to London in 2012, with Beachley joining sporting legends Andrew Gaze, John Eales and Steve Waugh.

They aim to help the athletes maintain focus and maximise performance with the assistance of the head coaches and team managers. “It’s an absolute honour and a privilege to be able to fulfil this role,” Beachley said. “It was always a dream of mine to go to an Olympic Games and an Olympic gold medal is the only thing missing from my trophy cabinet.” As an ALO, Beachley will provide support and guidance for individual athletes and teams by sharing her experiences from an illustrious sporting career.

“I am looking forward to being able to share my wealth of experience with the Olympians who have the dream of succeeding in their sport,” she said. ”One of my strengths throughout my career was my mental aptitude, an essential tool for anyone wanting to achieve a life-long goal.”

“Coming from an individual sport, I will be able to provide an alternative approach to competition – share some of my knowledge on how to approach pressure situations and thrive on them.”

“In surfing you are up against Mother Nature and that comes with an abundance of variables. To be the best you need to be able to adapt, change direction and plan ahead.”