Quote

"People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."

Maya Angelou

Real Life

Helena Dinnissen first discovered athletics at around eight years old, and it quickly became a defining part of her childhood. With a family that valued staying active, sport soon became woven into their lives - her dad even stepping in as an official and one of her loudest sideline supporters.

As a junior, Helena thrived, placing at school competitions and breaking Canterbury records. But as life grew more complicated, the youngest of four found herself navigating athletics alone. Without supportive coaches or a strong training environment, her momentum faded. Her Olympic dream slipped away, and eventually, she stopped showing up, and no one seemed to notice.

Fifteen years later, after raising three children, Helena felt drawn back to the track. Some old coaches were still there, greeting her with, “Why did you give it up?” and, “It’s a shame you had kids, you wasted your talent.” Helena thought: I was here 15 years ago. You didn’t see me, believe in me, or take the time to understand me, and that was all I ever needed.

This time, things were different. Older, more resilient, and with renewed purpose, Helena returned to competition at 32. By 40, she had won multiple Oceania medals, broken records, and even claimed long jump gold at the World Masters Championships (35–39 age group). The journey wasn’t always easy, sometimes she trained alone or with much younger athletes, and not all coaching was supportive, but she learned to advocate for herself and found people who truly believed in her.

Faith was always part of Helena’s family life, but she had to discover it for herself. In high school, she began a real relationship with God, experiencing His grace and friendship personally. Struggling with confidence and self-worth, she discovered something life-changing: God loved her unconditionally. Knowing this became the foundation for how she saw others and she learned to love because she had first been loved.

In the Bible, Jesus coached this way - seeing people, believing in them, and nurturing them. Paul then passed this on to Timothy, showing how care, guidance, and encouragement rooted in love could be passed on. Helena realised the coach she truly needed as a young athlete wasn’t defined by technical skill, but by seeing her as a person first - valued, believed in, and supported, especially on the days she didn’t believe in herself.

Now, as a coach, Helena carries that same vision of seeing athletes as people, loving them, and helping them build lasting self-belief. Her goal is simple: to be the coach she never had. “Whether they become Olympians or simply cherish these moments, I want them to know someone saw them, believed in them, and showed them they are deeply loved.”

Bible Verse

Encourage one another and build each other up.

1 Thessalonians 5:11

Prayer

God, thank You for seeing me and loving me unconditionally. Help me to see and encourage others as You see them, giving care, belief, and support when they need it most.

Author: Rodney Read  |   Content Editor: Phil Pawley