Bendere Oboya joins Elise to talk about her transition from Olympic 400m runner to 800m athlete, and why she is now building something even bigger than her own career.

Bendere reflects on representing Australia at the Tokyo Olympics, the Commonwealth Games and World Championships, the rapid rise of her early career, and the courage it took to step away from the 400m and back herself in a new event. She tells us about changing coaches, briefly retiring from the sport, and finding new purpose in athletics.

We also dive into Bendere’s upbringing after moving to Australia from Ethiopia as a young child, the sacrifices her family made, and how those experiences have shaped her drive to create more opportunities for others.

At the heart of this episode is the Oboya Foundation, Bendere’s new initiative aimed at removing financial barriers to sport and creating safe, inclusive spaces for young people to belong, move and dream bigger. She shares why representation matters so deeply, how the foundation is already taking shape, and why this work has given her own running a whole new meaning.

Plus: Returning to the 400m for the domestic season, life in Melbourne, fashion off the track, embracing her voice, and running with joy in 2026.

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Bendere Oboya is an Australian 400m and 800m runner. She has represented Australia in the 400m at the Olympics, Commonwealth Games and World Championships, and holds a national record in the 600m. In recent years, Bendere has switched her focus to the 800m event. She trains with On Athletics Club Oceania and is coached by Craig Mottram. Bendere has recently launched the Oboya Foundation, which provides free weekly athletics coaching, with additional needs-based financial support available to cover competition fees, uniforms and essential equipment for families facing financial, cultural or social barriers. 

Oboya Foundation: https://oboyafoundation.org/

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Intro/outro music by Dan Beacom

Graphic design by Kate Scheer