27 Jan 2010

Sandi Bowen and Sean Smith met while training in two very different sports at the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS).

Sandi was a member of the AIS Volleyball program from 1997 to 2000 and in 2002, and represented Australia in women’s volleyball at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.

Sean was in the AIS Wrestling program from 1996 to 1998. Unfortunately, due to ongoing problems with shoulder injuries, he missed out on qualification for Sydney Olympic Games. After finishing his scholarship, Sean continued at the AIS, as an athlete trainee in the Wrestling, Boxing and Archery programs, in the lead up to the Olympic Games.

Both Sandi and Sean studied for a Bachelor of Applied Science while at the AIS. Sandi completed hers with a major in Human Movement and Sean in Sports Administration.

After graduation, Sandi pursued a career in sport and leisure, working at Monash University in sports development and as the recreation and leisure officer for the City of Port Phillip in Melbourne. She later became a regional manager of the Australian Sports Commission’s Active After-school Communities program.

Since leaving the AIS, Sean has worked for Media Monitors in a range of positions, first in Sydney and then in Malaysia and Singapore in 2008, helping to expand the company’s operations into South-East Asia. He is currently general manager of Media Monitors in Wellington, where he and Sandi now live with their two daughters.

Although Sandi is currently a full-time mum, she is still actively involved in competitive volleyball and was a member of the Australian volleyball team that won gold in the 30–5 age category at the Sydney 2009 World Masters Games.