Athlete Interview: Georgia Booth

Georgia Booth is a talented dual athlete excelling in both basketball and football. Georgia is currently involved with Bendigo Braves NBL1 basketball, Bendigo Spirit WNBL and Boxhill VFLW. Georgia’s relentless work ethic translates seamlessly across both sports, making her a top dual-code athlete whether she’s on the footy field or basketball court.

Q1: How did your sporting journey begin?

I was introduced to sport from a very young age, starting with swimming and gymnastics before I even began school. When I was five years old, both of my older brothers were playing basketball, and I spent countless hours watching them train and compete. As the youngest sibling, I naturally wanted to follow in their footsteps. I started playing basketball myself and from that moment on, I never looked back.

Q2: Who was your biggest influence or role model growing up?

Without even realising it at the time, my biggest influences were definitely my two older brothers. They both started out playing domestic basketball before progressing to rep, so I grew up constantly watching them train, compete and improve. As the youngest, I was always trying to keep up with them, learning from everything they did both on and off the court.

When you play against your siblings, there’s never any mercy and I think that shows these days when I play. When you’re five or six years old playing against eight and eleven year old boys you have to go hard or you’ll never get a turn!

Q3: You’re excelling in both basketball and football. What do you enjoy most about being a dual athlete?

What I enjoy most is challenging my body to compete at a high level in two different sports while continually developing the unique skills each one demands. I’m passionate about the process of improving, knowing that real progress takes time and consistent effort. For example, I only learned how to kick a football three years ago, so seeing how much I’ve developed since then has been incredibly rewarding.

I also love the challenge of balancing both sports. As someone who thrives on competition, I feel incredibly fortunate to compete in two sports. When the weekend arrives, it’s like a big tournament, backing basketball up after footy or vice versa and then basketball again the next day, I love it!

Q4: Do you find that basketball complements your football or vice-versa?

Absolutely!

Basketball definitely helped my hand-eye coordination for football straight away. Handballing came really naturally because of all the ball handling I’ve done in basketball. Kicking was a different story though! At first, I wasn’t watching the ball drop onto my foot because in basketball, you never look at your hands when you’re shooting. That was such a basketball habit that I had to consciously retrain.

From football to basketball, I’d definitely say my physicality has improved. I was already a physical basketball player, but tackling, absorbing contact, and breaking tackles in football has made me much stronger and more confident when playing through contact on the basketball court. The conditioning from football has definitely made the physical side of basketball feel easier.

Q5: How do you balance playing both football and basketball at such a high level

I plan my week out in advance, making sure I fit in my individual skill sessions and gym work in the mornings, before a bit of life in the middle of the day and then heading to team training each night. I have team training almost every night so Fridays are usually my day off, which consists of lots of eating and some recovery sessions leading into the weekend which is usually football on Saturday morning, basketball on Saturday night, and sometimes another basketball game on Sunday.

Nutrition is also a huge part of it. I meal prep so I know exactly what I’m eating and when, making sure I always have food with me if I’m out all day. Sleep is another priority. If I’ve had a late night getting home from training or an early morning session, I’ll try to fit in a nap wherever I can. Recovery is just as important as training when you’re playing two sports.

Q6: Can you share a moment in your sporting journey that you’re especially proud of or that has shaped you as an athlete?

One of the biggest learning experiences for me was my first year with Bendigo Spirit. I was surrounded by athletes who had been playing professionally for years, and they taught me that working hard is only one part of being a high-performing athlete.

They showed me how important recovery, rest and having a life outside of sport really are. We’d catch up outside of training, play games and just enjoy each other’s company, and it made me realise that rest days aren’t something to feel guilty about, they’re essential if you want to perform consistently over the long term.

Before that, I’d often treat a rest day as another opportunity to stack in more sessions. They completely changed my perspective and taught me that sometimes the best thing you can do for your performance is to let your body recover.

Q7: What has been your biggest setback you’ve experienced throughout your sporting career and what is your approach to handling setbacks?

Without a doubt, it’s the injury I’m going through right now.

I broke my foot the week before the NBL1 season started, meaning I’ll miss an entire basketball season for the first time in my life. I had surgery and spent three months on crutches.

As difficult as it’s been, I can honestly say I’ve grown so much as both an athlete and a person. People often ask how I’ve stayed so positive, and I think it’s a combination of things, but the biggest one has been making the choice to show up for myself every day with a positive mindset. Being happy is so much less exhausting than dwelling on everything you’re missing out on.

With previous injuries, I spent a lot of time focusing on what I couldn’t do. This time, I’ve focused on what I can do. It might look different from what I was doing before, but I was still moving forward every single day.

I couldn’t have done it without my support system. My mum and dad have been incredible – driving me everywhere, including the 2.5 hour trips to Bendigo so I could support my team, rebounding for me, passing with me, taking me to the gym, and even sitting beside me while I completed my rehab exercises.

They’ve shown up for me every single day.

I also have a teammate, Micah Simpson who suffered an ACL injury just before I did my foot and we have really leaned on each other, supporting each other and really celebrating our rehab wins together but also being able to be real and raw with each other when we are having a tough day and just owning that feeling. We really pick each other up and it’s been so special.

I’m also incredibly grateful to everyone at Box Hill, Bendigo Braves and Bendigo Spirit. My teammates, coaches and support staff have backed me the whole way, and I feel very lucky to have had such an amazing group of people around me.

Q8: How important has strength and athletic development been in helping you perform at a high level in both basketball and football and how has SRA helped you achieve that?

So important, I think it’s a massive part of how I play and has allowed me to stay out on the court and field throughout the seasons. Obviously you can’t help the broken foot as it was just an accident that occurred but lifting, extra conditioning, plyometrics, they all play their part and so when it comes to being out there performing, the body has done the work, is strong and conditioned to repeatedly do what I ask it. Although my programs are supplied by my teams, SRA is always welcoming, answers any questions I may have, and supports me in any way possible.

Q9: What do you enjoy most about the environment here at SRA?

SRA is always such a welcoming environment. No matter how long I’ve been away, when I come back it feels like nothing has changed.

The community celebrates your wins, whether it’s getting off crutches, learning to walk, hitting PBs or hyping you up for a tough set, whatever it is they’ll be behind you no matter what. After taking Mum with me everyday for 4 months, the day I drove myself and rocked up without her, they all wanted to know where she was, so it really is more than just about lifting weights!

Q10: What advice would you give to young athletes who want to pursue more than one sport and are worried they have to choose too early?

Try it out – you’ll never know something unless you give it a shot. Be willing to make sacrifices, it takes a lot of time and you have to be able to balance it and also look after yourself, but at the end of the day you’ll never know unless you have a go!

Q11: What goals have you set for yourself over the next few years, both in basketball and football?

My first goal is simply to get back running, competing and being back out there with both groups of girls. I honestly can’t wait. I’ve missed it so much!

In basketball, I want to really solidify myself in the WNBL and would love to represent the green and gold one day as well.

In football, I would love to play AFLW and see what that could look like!