Teaching with a silver sting: Celebrating Elle Armit on World Teachers’ Day

On the 10th of August this year, Elle Armit stood on the Olympic podium in Paris, arm-in-arm with her Stingers teammates.

She had just made history, with the Aussie Stingers water polo team achieving their best Olympic finish in 24 years, winning silver.

The Stingers performed on the world’s biggest sporting stage, in front of sold-out crowds with millions of Aussies glued to their TV screens cheering them on from home.

Just six short weeks later, ‘Miss Armit’ was back in front of her secondary students, teaching at St Jospeh’s Gregory Terrace in Brisbane.

The 33-year-old dual Olympian says her Olympic journey is translating to the classroom.

“I’m taking all of these lessons water polo has given to me,” she said. “Those are my students, I want to be invested in them, to create a safe space where they can be vulnerable, and implement strategies to help them get the most out of themselves.

“Lessons that [Stingers head coach] Bec Rippon or our sports psych have taught us - taking on messages and leaving the emotion, how to work in a team, how to make the most of different personalities to achieve something special… these are all little bits of wisdom that have been shared with me through water polo, and I try to implement them in the classroom.”

Fresh from live interviews with Channel 9 poolside at Paris, Elle was put through her interview paces with her student leaders on her return to Terrace.

“The reaction from everyone at school has been so welcoming. I didn’t know what to expect but it’s been so lovely. 

“They had me on the ‘Captains on the Couch’ at school assembly with our captains interviewing me about the Olympics, and the students are still so interested to hear all about the Games.

“Teachers and students have all been so lovely and proud, sharing how they were supporting me and the Stingers from home. The reception has been so beautiful. 

“Especially that sudden death semi-final win over USA, so many students and teachers have told me how amped they were cheering us on.”

While chasing an Olympic dream is a full-time commitment in itself, Elle has balanced teaching and elite water polo throughout the Paris Olympic cycle.

“In term four of 2023 and term one of 2024 I would train in the gym or pool at school from 5 to 6am, teach all day, then do team sessions at night. The QAS (Queensland Academy of Sport) were so supportive to help me balance both work and my Paris goals.

“A few of the students knew I had competed in Tokyo and that I was aiming for Paris but I kept it pretty quiet.”

Along with her Olympic experience, Elle draws on her memories of teachers that impacted her as a student at Townsville’s St Margaret Mary’s College.

“So many teachers through high school gave me extra support, always making sure I was in contact with them and knew I could come to them for help.

“Camille Birch in particular, she had such a great nature and I try to embody her when I teach – she was gentle, patient, with a good sense of humour. As students we enjoyed both her serious and non-serious side.”

Today teachers around Australia are being celebrated as part of World Teachers’ Day. The Australian Olympic Committee is celebrating all Aussie teachers – from Olympian teachers like Elle, to teachers who share the Olympic spirit with their classrooms, and who inspire their students to have a go at a sport or to chase their own Olympic dream.

Courtsey www.olympics.com.au