As Rio 2016 came to an end, the Hunter Academy of Sport hopes the success of Hunter athletes will help inspire the next generation of Olympic champions from across the region.
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A total of nine athletes and coaches from the Hunter Academy of Sport participated in the 2016 Rio Olympics. One more will compete at the Paralympics, while a further two competed in the Special Olympics last year.
The academy athletes include silver medallist sailors Will Ryan, Nathan Outteridge and partner Iain Jensen, triathlete Aaron Royle, track and field stars Benn Harradine and Scott Westcott, hockey players Matt Dawson, Simon Orchard and Mariah Williams from the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.
Erin Cleaver who is set to compete next month in the Paralympic Games, and Jordan Brown and Keiran Corry who won a gold medal in the 2015 Special Olympics are also part of the academy’s programs.
While all were at some time members of the Hunter Academy of Sport, chief executive Brett O’Farrell says this is a win for the wider Hunter region.
“If you ever needed proof that the Hunter is a breeding ground for talent across all sports, this is it,” O’Farrell said.
“There’s a lot of work that goes in behind the scenes to create an Olympian. From their very first coaches, their parents who make a lot of sacrifices, everyone who volunteers their time to help run sporting programs – this is vindication that the system works and we need to keep working together to provide even more opportunities for our future stars.”
The culmination of the Olympics comes at an important time for the Hunter Academy of Sport with many of its programs just opened for nominations.
This includes a new Rugby 7s program that is sure to be popular following the Australian Women’s team’s gold medal heroics in the opening week of the Olympics.
“There are so many opportunities out there for boys and girls of all ages to find a sport they love and we will continue to provide these new opportunities for Hunter athletes and help everyone reach their individual potential,” O’Farrell said.
“Ask any Olympian where their dream started and they’ll tell you it began watching their heroes compete on TV, but their involvement with the sport started at club or venue near home.”
Nominations for Hunter Academy’s sporting programs are open to young athletes right now.
Programs now open include Australian rules football (boys and girls), athletes with a disability, basketball, cycling, golf, hockey, lawn bowls, netball, netball umpires, rugby 7s (boys and girls), tennis, tenpin bowling.