Olympic dreams

with Mark McCarthny

After the excitement of last year’s Rugby World Cup, it is hard to think that anything can top the way that event brought the country together. 

However, there is plenty of sport to look forward to this year, but the big event will surely be the summer Olympics in London. For two weeks beginning in late July, we will revel in the exploits of our top athletes as they strive for that elusive Olympic medal. A gold medal gives any athlete a lifetime of recognition. New Zealand has only ever won 36 gold medals in the history of the aummer Olympics. Who will add to that tally this year? Will we uncover a new athlete who will become a household name?

Locally, we will follow the efforts of Erin Taylor in the kayaking. This is her second Olympics and she and kayaking partner Lisa Carrington are realistic medal contenders. We will find out shortly if fellow kayaker Teneale Hatton will get the seal of approval from the Olympic committee to join them.

For many, selection for the Olympic team itself will be validation for their years of sacrifice and dedication to a punishing schedule that few can contemplate. Sadly, the standard in all sports have become so high, that athletes can no longer hold down anything but a small part time job. Recently I spoke to one of our top swimmers, who is within two seconds of qualifying for the Olympics. Her training regularly involves three sessions a day, sometimes four. All this to drop two seconds over 200 metres, essentially one body length.

Hopefully, some of our young local athletes will be inspired and also make a serious effort to also get to that elite level. Some of our local juniors are already showing real promise and I am sure many will follow their progress. At the Secondary School Athletic Nationals in December, Orewa College had two athletes win events. Both competed at the junior level which is under 15 years. Matt Bloxham broke the record for the junior hammer throw as well as placing second in the shot put, while Mackenzie Vitasovich also won the hammer throw for the girls. The good bit is that Mackenzie has at least one more year in that age group.  Both train four days a week down at the Millenium Institute at Mairangi Bay.

Published 15 February 2012