AIS Gen32 was created in 2022 to enhance the depth and diversity within Australia’s high-performance coaching ranks ahead of the home Games in Brisbane and provides emerging or early-career coaches with a two-year paid internship in the nation’s top sporting programs.
Tapper, who made history at the 2016 Rio Games when she became the first Australian athlete to compete at both the Olympics and Paralympics, is part of a 30-strong group of up-and-coming coaches that will work across 23 sports.
The long-term VIS scholarship holder repeated the feat at both the 2020(21) Tokyo Games and the most recent 2024 Paris Games.
Those in her close circle now affectionally call her the 'Triple Double'.
Last week she announced her retirement from the sport and she is now ready to make an impact from the sidelines.
“I feel excited about the new challenges ahead. I've had a long and fruitful career as an athlete and am more than ready to call it a day and put my energy into coaching,” Tapper said.
“Being a part of the Gen32 program I hope I can continue to build my skills as a coach and develop strong networks with the other Gen32 coaches to bring the best high-performance impact to table tennis in Australia”.
AIS Executive General Manager of AIS Performance Matti Clements announced on Tuesday in a media release that coaching is a key focus in the remaining eight years to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
“The AIS Gen32 Coach Program is a partnership with our national sporting organisations and National Institute Network, with 29 coaches having a career-changing experience over the first two years of the program,” Clements said.
More than half of the upcoming group of Gen32 coaches are women and one of them is former VIS cycling scholarship holder Samantha de Riter, who will be the AusCycling and VIS Gen32 coach.
De Riter was on scholarship at the VIS from 2014 to 2020 where she was heavily involved with the VIS Community Programs as a VIS Tour host and school speaker.
The VIS would like to congratulate all the emerging coaches named in the program.
The 2025-26 AIS Gen32 Coach Program will run from January 2025 to December 2026. For more information visit the AIS website.
By Camilla Blands
Victorian Institute of Sport
