HAVING rediscovered the things that bring her joy in netball, Queensland Firebirds star Gabi Simpson is emphasising the importance of happiness in sport and life.
Simpson has had no lack of accolades during her glittering career including back-to-back premiership success with the Firebirds, a long and successful international career representing her country and claiming the 2017 Liz Ellis Diamond as the country’s best netballer.
All those achievements rightly make the 30-year-old proud – but she is equally quick to acknowledge the many other things in her life which have motivated and inspired her during her 145-game national league career.
“It's personally just continually growing and continually finding ways to be better as an athlete and better as a netballer and better as a person that matters to me,” Simpson said.
“It's about the impact that I can have on the people around me. How amazing it is to be in a team sport where you can constantly have impact on your teammates but then also be given this platform where I can have an impact on a beautiful young girl where something as simple as smiling can make her day.
“It’s so important – whatever you do – to find your joy and work out what makes your job fun.
“Not to worry about those things that are out of your control and determine what is your version of success? How do you measure it? What matters most to you?”
That advice was utilised by Simpson at the end of 2021 when she realised she’d lost sight of that approach and a period of self-reflection ensured she entered last season with markers of success that worked specifically for her.
“I wasn't really enjoying myself when I was at netball and I thought that's not okay,” Simpson said.
“I'm playing the sport that I absolutely love. I'm playing the sport that as a kid I would have given anything to be able to play.
“So I had to have a look at myself.
“I changed the way that I was assessing myself to looking at moments of impact, moments where I could have impact on people and on the court and the netball just came with that.”
Simpson opted to relinquish the Firebirds captaincy she had held since 2017 as part of her self-reflection, with Kim Ravaillion taking on the role last season before being chosen to lead the club again this year.
Simpson however has returned to a formal leadership role, forming part of a four-player leadership group alongside Ravaillion, vice-captain Lara Dunkley and rising goaler Mia Stower.
“Taking away the title for me gave me the space to fully immerse myself in this new way of thinking,” she said.
“It's been really helpful and allowed me to find that happiness.
“I probably am leading the most freely and the most true to myself that I have and I’m really enjoying playing my role in leading this team without the title.”
The 30-year-old is excited to be part of the Firebirds’ new era under Head Coach Bec Bulley.
The pair were premiership-winning teammates in 2015 – a victory that Simpson says had a lot to do with Bulley’s arrival.
“When she moved to the Firebirds, we'd made two grand finals in a row but we hadn't won,” Simpson said.
“She moved to the Firebirds with the knowledge that she would likely be playing from the bench.
“The role that she played in showing that to win a championship you need every player engaged and actively trying to make this team the best it can be - she showed the Firebirds how that's done.
“She was really selfless in the way that she went about her business. Anytime she got an opportunity on court she was ready to go and absolutely dogged in what she did.
“I think personally she played a really big role in shifting us from those two grand final losses to then being the powerhouse of winning two grand finals back-to-back.”
It’s that winning mentality that has Simpson enthusiastic about what lies ahead with Bulley at the helm.
“It doesn't surprise me that having made the step up to a head coaching role, she’s brought that same dogged determination and she’s constantly searching for ways we can do things better as a team.”
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