Ogging began in 2020, during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, when a group of friends turned to training as a way to stay connected. Many of us were former or current professional athletes who missed not just structured training, but the shared environment and camaraderie that often disappears after school and competitive sport.

What started as casual sessions quickly became a regular rhythm. We trained hard, enjoyed ourselves, and valued the social side of sport just as much as the physical challenge. Around the same time, the film Anchorman was everywhere, and one line in particular resonated with us — a tongue-in-cheek reference to “jogging… or yogging… maybe with a soft J.” In that spirit, we dropped the “Y” and the name Ogging Squad stuck.

As the group grew, it became clear that Ogging represented something slightly different within endurance sport, particularly triathlon. While high performance environments often lean heavily into seriousness and intensity, we believed there was room for perspective. Training should be purposeful, but it shouldn’t come at the expense of enjoyment. Our approach was simple: take the work seriously, not ourselves.

That philosophy shaped what became known as the Ogging Squad Mentality™ — an appreciation for hard effort, balanced with humour, humility, and community. What began as a small group of individuals training alongside one another gradually evolved into a collective.

In 2021, that collective took on a new challenge: the Margaret River Ultra Marathon. Entering as a relay team, a group of Ogging athletes came together and went on to break the course record — a result that reflected not just fitness, but teamwork, trust, and shared commitment.

Since then, Ogging has continued to grow beyond its origins. What started as informal training sessions has become a broader community connected by endurance sport, consistency, and a grounded approach to performance. At its core, Ogging remains about people — training together, supporting one another, and remembering why we started in the first place.

Because sport should add to your life, not consume it.

Ogging was born out of both passion and adversity. For years, my life revolved around professional triathlon. Training, racing, and the pursuit of performance shaped my identity and my daily routine. Alongside that, I began helping others with their training, initially as a side project, then gradually as a growing coaching community.

In 2024, everything changed. A life-altering accident ended my elite racing career overnight. What followed was months in hospital, 17 surgeries, and an ongoing fight to save my leg. The focus shifted from podiums and performance to something far more fundamental - learning how to move again, how to walk again, and how to rebuild a future that no longer looked the way I had planned.

That process is still ongoing. Rehabilitation, setbacks, uncertainty, and persistence now define my relationship with movement. I’m no longer chasing marginal gains or race results... I’m fighting for function, independence, and the simple ability to participate. It’s been the hardest challenge of my life, and one that has fundamentally reshaped how I view training, resilience, and purpose.

Through this experience, one truth became clear: movement is a privilege. Choosing to train, to push into discomfort, to work toward improvement... these are opportunities not everyone gets. What once felt routine now carries weight and meaning.

Ogging evolved alongside that realisation. What began as a coaching side project became something far more intentional. Today, Ogging exists to help people realise their potential in a sustainable, grounded way - through coaching, community, and shared standards.

We stand for:

• Community: creating environments where people feel supported, not left behind
  
• Performance without the pretence: pursuing progress without ego or shortcuts
  
• Hard work with perspective: because growth is most powerful when effort and enjoyment coexist
  

My vision is simple: to inspire people to move, to challenge themselves, and to find meaning in the process - whether that’s through training, competition, or simply showing up consistently.

Because the ability to move is never guaranteed. And every run, every ride, every session is an opportunity to respect that privilege.

Ogging is more than a brand. It’s a reminder that even when life forces change, we can adapt, rebuild, and keep moving forward - in whatever form that takes.

Jonathan Sammut
Founder, Ogging