Update June 2008
Athlete Awards Announced
After careful consideration those successful applicants that applied for support under the new Athlete Awards system were announced on May 30th. After undergoing a huge restructure in programmes and management the Peter Snell Institute of Sport were keen to ensure the new programmes put in place would be effective and provide those athletes with the best chance possible of realising their potential. Important in this was an increase in the levels of funding and a improved focus on athlete support. Full programme descriptions can be found on the website under Athlete Education, Athlete Awards and athletes currently gaining support can be seen listed under the various sports in the Athlete Recognition section.
We would like to wish all of those that applied for support the very best in their sport.
Talent Search
Mount Roskill Grammar
De La Salle and Tangaroa College
Athlete Updates
Counting Down to Beijing Olympics
With less than 100 days to go until the Beijing Olympic Games starts, athletes from 205 countries around the world will gather together in a spirit of excellence, friendship and respect to take part in the world’s largest sporting festival. At Beijing New Zealand will send its 1000th athlete to the Games and 2008 marks 100 years of New Zealand participation at the Olympic Games.
Sarah Walker is heading for the Olympics to represent New Zealand in BMX riding. Sarah started BMX in February 1999 and raced her first ever nationals in April 1999 (and won). Since then she hasn’t stopped…….
So what do you think about BMX being in the 2008 Olympic games?’
Perfect! I was thinking about changing sports because it had always been a dream of mine to make the Olympics so when I found out that it was going to become an Olympic sport, I was stoked! It’s going to make BMX a bigger sport too – as it will now be recognized in more places and more people will actually know what it is. So there will be more money and more sponsors attracted and BMX will be bigger than ever expected (well I hope so)!
First impression of the Olympic museum in Lusanne: The first thing you see when you walk through the gates is the Olympic Motto. Citius, Altius, Fortius, which is Latin for "Swifter, Higher, Stronger". After it explains the origin etc, the audio tour gets you to turn around to see the Olympic flag carved into a marble slate with the coloured rings above on the wall followed by real Gold, Silver and Bronze Olympic Medals from the Sydney Olympics. This was a moment you can't really describe. We are so close to the Olympics now that those medals meant more than they ever have - it was a crazy feeling.
What are your plans for the future? Race BMX in the 2008 Beijing Olympics and travel the World doing the thing I love. After 2008, I am hoping to go to America with Dane to race as much as we can. Then start all over again for the 2012 Olympics in London.
Do you ever wonder what you’d be doing if you weren’t racing BMX? Not really. Maybe playing Volleyball or maybe even skiing coz its fast and you still get to do jumps.
What do you enjoy most about BMX? Getting to ride my bike almost everyday for a job! I love it so much and I wouldn't give it up yet for the world. I love training, racing, days off, the people/community and all the support from my family, my boyfriend and everyone else.
Check out Sarah’s website: www.sarahwalker96.com
