The development of elite athletes though is also an important part of the national body’s role and is an area that is tremendously detailed and variable. New challenges are presented almost daily and the sport is ever adapting to new technology, sports science and equipment to make sure we stay ahead of the world.

While the sport has been blessed in the past with such great elite athletes and results at World and Olympic Games level, this is not something that can be taken for granted.

So Triathlon New Zealand under its Sport Development arm has set up a Youth Academy and in recent times has invested more time and money into making sure we identify potential stars of the future and put them in a programme to give them the best chance of emulating the likes of Hamish Carter, Bevan Docherty and Sam Warriner.

Sport Development Director Brendon Downey explains the thinking behind the Academy.

“The Triathlon New Zealand Youth Academy is the end result of a great deal of planning and is set up as a talent identification, mentoring and educational programme for athletes still attending secondary schools across New Zealand.

”The sport has enjoyed something of a resurgence at youth level with great racing throughout the Contact Tri Series, in U19 categories at the national championship and at the Contact Schools Championships at Karapiro in late April.

“But we must do more than just provide a racing environment for our best young athletes. To turn their natural talent at a young age into international success as elite athletes is the main objective, that means working closely with them and their coaches every step of the way. This is the aim under the guidance of our Youth Development Office Mel Warmerdam and the team at Tri NZ.”

As a result of good performances and showing great potential through the summer season, the following athletes were inducted into the Triathlon New Zealand Youth Academy for 2009:

Aaron Barclay (Gore High School)
Alex Smith (St Kentigerns College)
Sam Osborne (Western Heights High School)
Alexi Petrie (Mount Albert Grammar)
Sam Franklin (St Kentigerns College)
Sam Morreau (Auckland Grammar)
Josh Kenyon (Taupo Nui-a-tia)
Cameron Todd (Taupo Nui-a-tia)
Daniel Hine (New Plymouth Boys High School)
Owen Miller (Mount Maunganui College)
Deborah Lynch (St Mary's College)
Maddie Dillon (Kristen School)
Shea Reardon (Taupo Nui-a-tia)
Mikayla Nielson (Correspondance)
Courtney Grenfell (Chilton St James School)
Amelia Watkinson (Diocesan School for Girls)
Reubyn Mary Jane Bisschops (St Kevins School)
Laura Wood (Christchurch Girls)
Josie Wilcox (Nelson College

The athletes were inducted to the programme at an official ceremony in Hamilton in early July, before the first round of testing, study and work with coaches, nutritionists and physiologists and an induction speech from New Zealand elite rower James Dallinger on what it takes to make it and succeed at the top level of international sport.

The camp has clearly had an impact on those attending, as Owen Miller (Mount Maunganui) attested to.

“I had an awesome time both catching up with people I knew as well as meeting new people with similar interests creating more of a team atmosphere which is good in an individual sport like triathlon.

”It was a great way of boosting my motivation over winter by training in a group situation with everyone pushing each other to be faster and I learned some important things about race day nutrition and psychology.”

Likewise Laura Wood who made the journey from Christchurch was impressed.

“The Tri NZ Youth Academy Camp in Hamilton was very enjoyable. The camp was a great opportunity for twelve of us to learn about what it takes for us to become elite triathletes. As well as a lot of hard work, everyone had a really good time as we grew to know the other triathletes our age.”

This is just the first of a number of such camps where the athletes will be monitored, mentored and offered advice on all aspects of their sport, from racing to training to nutrition to dealing with the media.

It is hoped that one day a number of the names gathered in Hamilton in July will wear the silver fern at Olympic Games or World Championship level.

Tri NZ would like to acknowledge the support of Wintec in Hamilton for providing facilities for testing. Tri NZ undertook assessments of this kind at this age for the first time and is hoping to make it a standard tool for future camps, connecting with the Tri NZ HP programme.

Image: 
Standing, from left to right:
Cameron Todd, Shea Reardon, Mel Warmerdam, Mikayla Nielson, Daniel Hine, James Dallinger, Owen Miller, Josh Kenyon

Kneeling, left to right:
Amelia Watkinson, Josie Wilcox, Reubyn Mary Jane Bisschops, Deboarah Lynch, Laura Wood

Front lying down
Sam Osborne