We Made it onto Seven Sharp!
Massive thanks to the Seven Sharp team for coming down to the gym and sharing this story. Olivia completed her first fitness race with me at a Hyrox Sim in Hamilton; you can read her story HERE, and I wanted to share the message that fitness is for everyone, no matter the barriers.
Reporter Mary Jane Agate spent time with me to find out how my own experience shaped that mission.
Here’s a brief overview of the segment:
Sport was always the plan — it just didn’t come easily
Bayley has loved sport his whole life, but as a kid, keeping up wasn’t straightforward.
“I’ve loved sports my whole life, you know. No matter how hard I practice, I could still never get to that same level.”
“I couldn’t understand what was being told to me, or I couldn’t understand how to achieve what they were telling me to do.”
It wasn’t until intermediate school that things clicked into place, when Bayley was diagnosed with dyspraxia — a learning challenge that affects coordinated movement.
“Anyone who has dyspraxia in general, it’s this disconnect between the sequencing of movement from your brain down to your body.”
Turning that experience into understanding
That diagnosis didn’t sideline Bayley from sport — it became the foundation for how he now trains others.
“I think training brings a lot of people together who wouldn’t come together otherwise.”
Because he’s lived it himself, Bayley brings something to his sessions that can’t be taught.
“I bring a level of understanding that unless you have a neurodiverse diagnosis, you just won’t understand. I can relate to them on a very personal level.”
Olivia’s story
Bayley’s passionate that everyone gets to share that sense of community. He’s been training Olivia for a year. Last month. They competed in their first competition.
Olivia wanted to try new things, get stronger and fitter, and change too. Bayley convinced her to do Hyrox, and now she’s planning to enter in Auckland and Brisbane.
“Exercise is my routine now.” says Olivia
“You know, after the race I just broke down. Like, I just started crying. You know, it was loud, there was a lot of noise, there were a lot of people, and she just stuck it out.”
Bridie & Sinead train with Bayley weekly
Sinead was showing us farmers’ carries in the piece, and Bridie was squatting. Her mum, Lisa, spoke about what that weekly session means for her daughter.
“She’s building more than muscle. She knows every in this gym, she walks in and she says, ‘Hi, everybody’.”
“I know she’s safe. I know she’s well looked after, and she’s in an environment that accepts her.”
Bayley’s take
There’s substantial research on the benefits of exercise for neurodiverse people.
“There’s a lot of room to grow and there’s a lot of room to make changes, because a gym is meant to be a place for everyone.”
And when asked where he feels most himself, the answer was simple.
“If I had to be anywhere, it would probably be a gym.”
Watch the full Seven Sharp feature above, and get in touch if you’d like to come train with me.
We Made it onto Seven Sharp!
Massive thanks to the Seven Sharp team for coming down to the gym and sharing this story. Olivia completed her first fitness race with me at a Hyrox Sim in Hamilton; you can read her story HERE, and I wanted to share the message that fitness is for everyone, no matter the barriers.
Reporter Mary Jane Agate spent time with me to find out how my own experience shaped that mission.
Here’s a brief overview of the segment:
Sport was always the plan — it just didn’t come easily
Bayley has loved sport his whole life, but as a kid, keeping up wasn’t straightforward.
“I’ve loved sports my whole life, you know. No matter how hard I practice, I could still never get to that same level.”
“I couldn’t understand what was being told to me, or I couldn’t understand how to achieve what they were telling me to do.”
It wasn’t until intermediate school that things clicked into place, when Bayley was diagnosed with dyspraxia — a learning challenge that affects coordinated movement.
“Anyone who has dyspraxia in general, it’s this disconnect between the sequencing of movement from your brain down to your body.”
Turning that experience into understanding
That diagnosis didn’t sideline Bayley from sport — it became the foundation for how he now trains others.
“I think training brings a lot of people together who wouldn’t come together otherwise.”
Because he’s lived it himself, Bayley brings something to his sessions that can’t be taught.
“I bring a level of understanding that unless you have a neurodiverse diagnosis, you just won’t understand. I can relate to them on a very personal level.”
Olivia’s story
Bayley’s passionate that everyone gets to share that sense of community. He’s been training Olivia for a year. Last month. They competed in their first competition.
Olivia wanted to try new things, get stronger and fitter, and change too. Bayley convinced her to do Hyrox, and now she’s planning to enter in Auckland and Brisbane.
“Exercise is my routine now.” says Olivia
“You know, after the race I just broke down. Like, I just started crying. You know, it was loud, there was a lot of noise, there were a lot of people, and she just stuck it out.”
Bridie & Sinead train with Bayley weekly
Sinead was showing us farmers’ carries in the piece, and Bridie was squatting. Her mum, Lisa, spoke about what that weekly session means for her daughter.
“She’s building more than muscle. She knows every in this gym, she walks in and she says, ‘Hi, everybody’.”
“I know she’s safe. I know she’s well looked after, and she’s in an environment that accepts her.”
Bayley’s take
There’s substantial research on the benefits of exercise for neurodiverse people.
“There’s a lot of room to grow and there’s a lot of room to make changes, because a gym is meant to be a place for everyone.”
And when asked where he feels most himself, the answer was simple.
“If I had to be anywhere, it would probably be a gym.”
Watch the full Seven Sharp feature above, and get in touch if you’d like to come train with me.
