A former Olympian and one of Aotearoa’s most versatile multi‑discipline athletes, Sarah Cowley Ross has built a purposeful career at the intersection of sport, wellbeing, and storytelling.
Her background as a New Zealand high jump and heptathlon champion laid the foundation for a life defined by resilience, curiosity, and a deep commitment to empowering others through sport and movement.
Throughout a 15‑year international athletics career, Sarah represented New Zealand at the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, and age‑group World Championships, earning a personal best of 1.91m in high jump—ranking her second of all time in New Zealand. The competitive grit, adaptability, and discipline forged on the world stage now fuel her dynamic work beyond elite sport.
Today, Sarah is a respected sports broadcaster, columnist, and commentator, proudly contributing to the Olympic Broadcasting Service for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and previously hosting as part of the TVNZ broadcast team for Tokyo 2020. Whether connecting with global audiences or supporting community events, she brings warmth, clarity, and a rare insider’s perspective to every live environment.
Sarah’s dedication to giving back to the sporting community runs deep. She is the former Chair of the New Zealand Olympic Committee Athletes’ Commission, where she also served on the NZOC Executive Board. She has held governance roles with University and Tertiary Sport NZ, has been a national selector for Athletics NZ, and continues to support the Olympic Movement across the Oceania region. A passionate advocate for women’s leadership, she is an alumna of the NZOC’s Women in Sport Leadership Academy and now contributes as a facilitator, helping guide the next generation of women leaders across the Pacific.
A committed storyteller, Sarah is a columnist for Newsroom’s Locker Room, a platform dedicated to elevating women’s sport, and co‑host of the podcast Suze & Sez Sportstalk. She is also a qualified physiotherapist and communications consultant with a strong public voice around wellbeing, movement, and everyday health—championing her personal mantra Never Miss a Monday to encourage others to start their week with intention, joy, and confidence.
Above all, Sarah is a proud mum to Max and Poppy. Her work is driven by the belief that sport and storytelling can help build a healthier, more connected Aotearoa where people of all ages feel inspired to move, belong, and thrive.
Sarah MCed our National Butchery Awards. From the initial briefing we knew we were in good hands; Sarah was very enthusiastic about MCing our event and had one of her friends Phinn Butcher c ... keep reading Retail Meat New Zealand
Sarah naturally adapted and owned the role of MC in our Winning Move Challenge content video. She nailed the lines, delivery and provided additional ad-lib commentary.
