Nine Australian women sport stars have some advice for the next generation.

Everyone knows one.

That kid that is obsessed with cricket and wants to be the next Michael Clarke.

That kid who does eight swimming sessions a week and wants to be up there on the podium at the 2020 Olympics.

That kid who lives and breathes sport. Who wants nothing more than to be a professional athlete of some kind.

If you know a kid like that? Send them this post. Or print it out and give it to them so that they can pop it up on their wall.

It’s invaluable advice from nine different athletes, from nine different sports. All of them are incredibly passionate about sport. All of them have had to work incredibly hard to get to where they are. All of them have managed to get to the absolute top of their chosen sport.

And all of them have something to say to our future generation of world champions and Olympians.

Have a read:

Ellyse Perry (plays on the Australian national teams for both cricket and soccer):

I think opening yourself up and putting yourself in situations where you’ve got a chance to have a new experience, or learn new things, or play with new people, or work with new coaches, is always a really important part of development and of achieving your goals and dreams as well.

Laura Geitz (captain of the Australian netball team):

From a young age, you will face many challenges along the way, and that’s what makes it all worthwhile when you achieve your goal and your dream. You just have to be happy during the process. Yes, there will be some tough times, but just don’t let it get you down, you still have to enjoy playing the sport. And when you do enjoy playing the sport and have a true passion for it, that’s when you’ll achieve good things.

Sally Fitzgibbons (current Junior World Chapmion for surfing):

I think definitely just give it a go. I know it’s simple but even when I was growing up, other girls were scared of what people would think. It’s all about letting go of the inhibitions and just have a go – you never know how good you could be, and you could really surprise yourself. I think especially with surfing, it’s an awesome activity, you’re in the sun all day and you can really get involved.

Liz Cambage (Australia’s best-known female basketballer):

At the end of the day, it’s all about doing what you love and what makes you happy. Whatever it is – give it your all, give it your 100%. But it’s important to also find some balance. Growing up, my sport took over my school. I just passed. I would love to go back and balance it more.

Jodie Fields (captain of the Australian women’s cricket team, the Southern Stars):

For girls hoping to get into professional sports – I think the best advice is just enjoy the sports you do get to play at school. There are so many different choices, and I think its just important to get involved and enjoy it as much as you can. You don’t really have to make a serious decision about the sport you’re playing until the end of school. Get in and enjoy it, have fun with your friends and give it 100%.

Anna Segal (freestyle skier heading to Sochi Winter Olympics, 2014):

Seeking out a group of like-minded girls is always a good way to go about it – especially if you don’t have the money for coaching, which can be quite expensive. I learned a lot of my tricks through skiing with friends and them giving me advice and me giving them advice. Finding female mentors is important, too.

Amber Wing (professional female wakeboarder):

My main advice is to work as much as you can, and prove them all wrong. Don’t listen to anyone who says you can’t do it, because with enough time and enough passion you can do whatever you want and achieve whatever you want. Work hard, train harder and believe in yourself.

Cate Campbell (swimmer and Olympic medalist – gold medal in freestyle at the 2012 Olympic games):

I would say – make sure you enjoy it! Because if you don’t enjoy it, you’re not going to excel. If you are not enjoying it, you need to find something else. It is hard, it is tough. You need to find something else.

Meg Lanning (star cricket player on the national women’s cricket team):

Do something that you really enjoy and have fun with, and you know when I was younger when I got curious I really enjoyed myself. And even playing for Australia in this tournament it’s something that we focus on, and try and make sure that we’ve still got because you’ve got to be passionate and love what you do.

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And in other sport news from the week…

– The Women’s Ashes are still going. While England took out the Test in Perth, Australia can still pull ahead on points by winning five of the six upcoming Twenty20 and one-day matches.

– The Nutri-Grain IronWoman Series will begin this weekend, and will be broadcast by the Nine Network. The IronWomen will be paddling, swimming and running for over $400,000 in prize money.

– Rowena Webster, an Australian women’s water polo player, has polled amongst the world’s top five female water polo athletes in FINA’s Athletes of the Year 2013 poll, published last week. Congratulations, Rowena!

– The Australian Open is (quite literally) heating up; Serena Williams and Li Na moved into the third round this week. Williams beat Vesna Dolonc 6-1, 6-2 and Li beat Swiss player Belinda Bencic 6-0, 7-6 (7-5). Australian player Casey Dellacqua also progressed – she’s now set to face China’s Zheng Jie.