Five south-west rising stars open up on why they picked their sports

They can also recall the reason why they decided to continue it once they initially fell in love.

It could have started simply by playing during their time at school.

A family member may have played it in the past or are currently still playing it, therefore influencing them to take it up.

Others can find their sporting love by catching a glimpse of it on TV and becoming instantly addicted, driving them to reach that level.

The Standard spoke to south-west rising stars Chloe Mutton, Toby McDonald-Harry, Gabby Lougheed, Callum Bridge and Grace Kelly on why they picked up their individual sports.

Like all athletes these five future stars also fell in love with their sports instantly, and for many different reasons.

Age: 13

Sport: Gymnastics

Sitting in front of the TV watching the London Olympics aged five was when the energetic Mutton discovered she wanted to do gymnastics.

"I saw the gymnasts doing cartwheels and flips and I remember getting up after it and trying to copy what they were doing and that was my memory of it," she said.

The 2019 Victorian level six (13 and over) champion was soon travelling from Camperdown to Warrnambool Springers to learn her craft.

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From the moment she entered those doors her love for the sport grew and grew.

"(I love) the challenge of it, the competitions are really cool too and the atmosphere there too," the Emmanuel College student said.

"The skills are difficult and it always feels good when you get them.

"I love competing against other people and seeing how I can improve my scores every time I compete.

"Also being with a team has helped me make some good friends and we all cheer for each other."

Mutton tried cheerleading and still does aerials, which she is also successful in with a second place at the national championships in 2018.

Age: 13

Sport: Soccer

Football was the first sport McDonald-Harry played before he discovered soccer was really his true calling.

"I started three years ago playing for the (Warrnambool) Wolves but before that I was playing it at school with my friends and then got into it from there," he said.

"We played at lunchtime and recess. (I realised I wanted to change sports) as soon as I saw what I could do and from there I have just got better and better and it turned into the sport I liked the most."

The former North Warrnambool Eagle junior is now plying his trade with National Premier League club Ballarat City after dominating with the Wolves in 2019.

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McDonald-Harry now spends most of his spare time studying the game he says has grown into "a very big passion".

"I watch a lot of the soccer highlights from (Italian soccer giants) Juventus and (English Premier League superclub) Liverpool," the left winger said.

"I like watching (Argentine professional footballer) Paulo Dybala, who plays in a similar position to me. He is very explosive off the ball."

Age: 17

Sport: Volleyball

Lougheed knew team sports were exactly what she wanted from the moment she first started playing volleyball at school aged 11.

"I was looking for an indoor team sport to play and I played it at inter-school competitions and gained interest from that," she said.

"My dad played previously but not a lot and then I went to a Spikezone session at Warrnambool Volleyball and I really liked that and then kept coming back."

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Before deciding on volleyball, the Emmanuel College student tried swimming and gymnastics but found she really enjoyed the camaraderie that comes with team sports.

"I really liked it as a way to build special connections with people," she said. "I also like the atmosphere it creates when chasing team success."

Lougheed's passion is also motivating her to chase down her goals.

"I'm trying to reach higher levels and get on another international tour and just play as high as I can," she said.

Age: 16

Sport: Hockey

When it came time to choose a sport Bridge knew from the moment he had picked it he had the right one, just like his father Mark before him.

"I started in prep or grade one and I started because mum wanted me to have a sport and dad used to play so I ended up playing hockey," he said.

"Dad played it when he was a kid and now we play in the same position, both playing goal-keeper.

"He also takes me everywhere for things like training and games and we talk a bit about it (hockey) at home."

A few years into his hockey career was when was when the Victorian representative really started to tap into his competitive drive.

"In year three or four when I found out all the different teams you are able to make and how I can take this to the next level really drove me on," he said.

The only other sport Bridge has played was volleyball, which he did at his school Brauer College.

Bridge and his teammates went on to play in the School Sport Victoria state finals in 2019.

Age: 14

Sport: Athletics

After her first time competing in a race Kelly was straight onto her parents Kevin and Louise to let her take up the sport.

"I started in primary school in prep when there was a sports carnival and I really enjoyed it and asked mum and dad when I get to do this again," she recalls.

"It was not for another year before they entered me into under sixes at Warrnambool Little Athletics Club and I have been doing athletics since then."

The feelings the national sprint champion got as a young runner is what keeps driving her to a successful future in the sport.

"The feeling of running and going really fast and that feeling of wanting to beat your time, every time," she said. "Running faster every time you run and trying to be the quickest you can be."

Kelly initially started in hurdles but found flat sprinting was what thrilled her the most. She also tried dancing, swimming and basketball before her love of athletics took over.

"I prefer individual sports because at the end of the day it's about what you can do and if it doesn't go to plan you have to work on it and it's not anyone else's fault," she said.