Jana Pittman is a two-time world champion and four-time Commonwealth Champion in Athletics. As the first ever woman to represent the country in the Summer and Winter Olympics, Jana continues to inspire Australians as a doctor, mother and motivational speaker.
Jana made a spectacular athletics debut at just sixteen, where she won her first junior world title at the World Youth Championships. In the following year, she matched the 400m hurdles junior record and won the 400m and 400m hurdles events at the World Juniors. Having made a name for herself on the athletics track with an IAAF Rising Star Award, Jana was selected to represent Australia at the Sydney 2000 Olympics.
She continued her successful streak with a second World title, just 8 months after the birth of her son. Jana also won the 400m hurdles and 4 x 400m relay at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, as well as a Gold in the 400m hurdles at the 2003 World Championships in Paris. This remarkable feat also cemented Jana’s legacy as the youngest 400m hurdles World Champion in history.
Jana’s incredible career was not without challenges. Having sustained persistent injuries, she inspired audiences with her unmatched resilience and sportsmanship. She faced a devastating knee injury that forced her into heavy rehabilitation and surgery, putting her athletics career on hold. She made a triumphant return in 2006 when she scored the 4 x 400 Gold Medal in front of a home crowd, but eventually retired from her athletics career to prevent further injuries.
Jana was determined to continue competing in global events. After accepting an invitation to join the Australian Women’s Bobsleigh Team, she reinvented herself and trained hard to return to the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.
Outside of her sporting career, Jana is a certified medical practitioner, having drawn inspiration from her “four little gold medals” (her children – Cornelis, Emily, Jemima, and Charlie). After a personal health scare, Jana reignited a childhood dream to become a doctor.
Having graduated with a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery, as well as a Masters of Reproductive Medicine, she assists the local Australian community as a junior doctor in a NSW hospital. She hopes to work in women’s health as an obstetrician or gynaecologist, where she intends to further support cancer awareness and research.
Jana is also an ambassador for the Australian Cervical Cancer Foundation, Save the Box (RANZGOG) and Westmead Medical Research Foundation.
With her inspiring strength and determination, Jana showcased her inspiring personality on the 2021 edition of Channel 7’s TV program “SAS Australia”. She was a fan favourite among Australian audiences for her incredible endurance and resilience.
Jana continues to motivate audiences as a keynote speaker, sharing stories of remarkable courage that helped her succeed in the sporting and medical profession.