When asked about her time growing up in Whanganui, Megan listed endless summer days at Kowhai Park, Whanganui East Pools, Virginia Lake, and Kai Iwi Beach among her favourite memories. Sport was a core part of life with gymnastics keeping her busy as a child, until basketball became the focus for the talented athlete.
“I remember vividly being tucked into bed on my fifth birthday and Mum asking me if I wanted to do gymnastics. And that was me from ages 5 to 13,” says Megan.
“I realised I was never going to be an Olympic gymnast so walked out of training one Friday night and went across the hall to the basketball courts and never looked back.”
On the highlights and challenges of working in sport, Megan says with time and experience she has realised sport is a massively powerful tool.
“Young me thought it was the natural pathway because I didn’t think I could do anything else. It’s what I knew, and I was terrified about what I was going to do after I stopped playing.
“It (sport) not only promotes healthy choices and lifestyle, but it can also lift people out of situations where they may feel they have no other hope, it can give you a sense of belonging, develop leadership and other critical skills that they can then apply to the real world.
“Sport can literally bring warring nations together under a type of diplomacy that doesn’t exist in the halls of power. I’ve seen it first hand give kids hope and dreams and enjoyment when life is tough.
“That’s what I feel most proud of when I think about my time working in sport.”
The Women Who Lead/La Fiesta event with Megan Compain is on at The Barracks Sports Bar at 5.30pm on Tuesday, February 20. This is a free event, and no registration is needed, all are welcome. For more information visit https://sportwhanganui.co.nz/.
