UNSW Built Environment: Elite Sports Program at UNSW

UNSW Built Environment student, Lauren Kitchen has been featured in a video that profiles students enrolled in the UNSW Elite Athlete Support Program.

Lauren, who is currently studying a Bachelor of Planning at UNSW was recently named the “Under-23 National Cycling Time Trial Champion”, and competed in the 2011 Tour Down Under, Australia’s biggest international cycling race.

Click on the video below to hear Lauren’s and other UNSW student’s opinions on what it is like to be an elite athlete studying at UNSW.

For more information on Lauren, click on this related article in the Built Environment blog.

UNSW Built Environment Student Lauren Kitchen named Under 23 National Cycling Champion

The Faculty of Built Environment would like to congratulate Lauren Kitchen, who is currently studying a Bachelor of Planning at UNSW, for being named the “Under-23 National Cycling Time Trial Champion”.

Lauren has had an outstanding year, competing for the first time in the Open Women’s Cycling category after being named the 2008 ‘Australian Junior Cyclist of the Year’. Lauren also represented UNSW in 2009, winning Gold at the Australian University Games in both the Road Race and the Women’s Criterium as well as Silver in the Women’s Individual Time Trial. Lauren was rewarded with a much deserved place in the Green and Gold squad.

Lauren has been studying part time at UNSW Built Environment for the past 2 years. We managed to have a quick chat to Lauren about how she balances her study and cycling career.

Why did Lauren choose to study a Planning degree?

I chose the Bachelor of Planning degree as I find the field very interesting and I can see it becoming a bigger and bigger part of society into the future. I also chose this course as it was very different to the sporting side of things that I am around 24/7. I really enjoy spending time concentrating on things away from bike riding from time to time.

Do you find it hard to balance study and training? How do you fit it all in?

I have found it difficult at times to balance study and training but UNSW has an excellent support structure for elite athletes and I find once I get into a routine of studying regularly while training and competing overseas I can easily balance the two.

What sort of career are you looking for when you finish your degree?

In terms of when I finish my degree I really don’t know which direction I will head into. I am finding my degree interesting and enjoy studying it but I am a cyclist and I can also see myself running a team when I finish competing myself. I love studying though as it gives me the options in my future which is nice.

Due to her success at the National Cycling Championships, Lauren wore the National Cycling Jersey for her team, Jayco AIS, at the recent Tour Down Under, the biggest international cycling race in the Southern Hemisphere. Lauren will now focus on her attention on the Spring Classics in Europe in April.