Josie Baff, an Olympic gold medallist, discusses how she manages high performance sport alongside major school commitments, including the Higher School Certificate (HSC). The outlets agree that the period of the global pandemic shaped her routine and decision-making, helping her maintain focus and structure while training at an elite level. She reflects on the skills she developed through balancing study and sport—such as planning, discipline, and managing pressure—and says those abilities continue to support her after achieving gold. While the articles focus primarily on her personal experience rather than detailed policy or sporting analysis, they present a consistent theme: the combination of school responsibilities and the disruptions associated with COVID-19 contributed to the way she prepared mentally and practically for competition. Across Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, and Brisbane Times, the coverage centers on how her educational experience and pandemic-era adjustments helped reinforce habits she carries into elite sport today, culminating in her Olympic success.