Drive from within
Molly Taylor grew up in a motorsport family, but her path to championship success was fuelled by personal conviction. Speaking exclusively to The 1v1 Project, Molly opens up about the mental demands of rallying, the powerful legacy of her mum’s career, and how an unwavering inner drive propelled her to the top of one of motorsport’s most challenging disciplines.
Just another view
Tricia Downing was in the best shape of her life when a cycling accident left her paralysed at 31. In an interview with The 1v1 Project, she shares how she rebuilt not just a sporting career, but her entire identity, discovering that resilience isn’t about bouncing back, but bouncing forward into a new view of life.
Built for pressure
Jess Edgar grew up in a motorsport dynasty, but she quickly learned that reputation doesn't transfer. Speaking to The 1v1 Project, she opens up about the unique pressures of the grid, the self-belief required to thrive alone with your instincts, and how her journey from childhood karting to F1 Academy victory taught her to perform best when the stakes are highest.
Learning at speed
Racing in her first full Women's World Championship season, with GR Motorsport, Chloe has discovered that the transition from being the fastest female rider in the British Superbike Championship to competing against the world's elite is as much about managing internal battles as mastering new circuits.
Chart your course
When Myriam Fox-Jerusalmi won bronze in the K1 slalom canoeing competition at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics as a mother in her mid-thirties, she knew it marked the end of one journey and the beginning of another. The French-born athlete defied conventions of her era by balancing motherhood and Olympic training, later becoming a pioneering coach who championed gender equality in canoe slalom. Despite facing systemic resistance, Fox-Jerusalmi led the fight to introduce women's canoe singles (C1) to international competition, culminating in its Olympic debut at Tokyo 2020 – where her daughter Jess Fox claimed the historic first gold medal.
Redefining the race
Amber Keegan's journey from competitive pool swimmer to marathon open water athlete reveals how overcoming an eating disorder ultimately led to a greater purpose. Despite missing her Olympic dream, Amber found meaning in founding Athlete Interactions, a non-profit creating safe spaces for female athletes struggling with mental health challenges. “I realised that the journey is everything," she reflects. “While I absolutely didn't feel it at the time, I see now that the path I took led me to something even bigger than Paris: making sure that no other female athlete feels as alone as I once did.”
Getting it done
Ultra runner Ali Young has conquered some of the world's most extreme races, including becoming the only British woman to finish the gruelling 153-mile Spartathlon three times. Despite her impressive achievements, Ali's approach remains refreshingly straightforward – there's no zen-like mindset or runner's high carrying her through. "I'm definitely never in a kind of meditative state. It really is just a hard slog the whole way," she admits. Her success comes from practical strategies, patience, and the ability to manage the inevitable ups and downs. Whether raising funds for charity or setting a Guinness World Record running the London Marathon in a penguin costume, Ali's philosophy is simple: “It’s just a case of cracking on and getting it done.”
Who says you can’t?
“My journey started when I was about 40. We were living in Durban, in South Africa, and I was heavily into the gym,” Fiona explains. When a friend suggested she run the Two Oceans Half Marathon in Cape Town before attending a wedding, a personal trainer said it would be “a bit harder than running 10k on the treadmill.” That comment made her want to train for the race. “I left the gym, bought a Runner’s World magazine, and thought, ‘Well, I’ll show you.’ Being told I couldn’t do it really motivated me.” Since then, Fiona has found that the mental side of running is key. “I actually think that’s more important than the physical, because the body can do it.”