Pathway to Podium: first two-year cycle complete

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On March 31st Aktive – Auckland Sport & Recreation marked the completion of the first Pathway to Podium two year cycle with a recognition event at AUT Millennium.

The evening provided athletes based in the Auckland programme with an opportunity to share their success stories and thank the local partners for their support.

AUT Millennium CEO, Mike Stanley, says it was an honour to be recognised by the athletes and the organisation is proud to provide support for talented young athletes.

“As an organisation we are committed to providing world-class facilities to help New Zealand athletes succeed on the world-stage.”

“We take enormous pride in the part we as an organisation play in the development of the young Pathway to Podium athletes as they strive to reach their goals.”

The programme better prepares athletes to manage the unique challenges of high performance sport.

Athletes access expert nutritional advice, strength and conditioning support and seminars focused on helping athletes learn the performance-culture required to become a world-class athlete.

Nick BlincoeAktive Pathway to Podium Programme Coordinator, Paul Strang, comments that the programme is growing from strength to strength with the help of its partners.

“The commitment and collaboration from our partners, including AUT Millennium, is integral to the success of Pathway to Podium”, he says.

“We look forward to the continuation of this important partnership and the opportunity it provides to jointly prepare athletes to be the best they can be in sport and life.”

The Auckland programme is the largest of the 14 regional hubs in the country with 89 young athletes and has seen 25 athletes in the first two year cycle progress to high performance programmes in their respective sports.

Of those athletes, two have qualified to date to represent New Zealand at the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games with final opportunities still available for others to qualify.

In March at the New Zealand Swimming Nationals, Helena Gasson, from North Shore Swim Club, qualified in the women’s 100m butterfly with a time of 58.66s.

Para-cyclist Byron Raubenheimer is the second athlete to qualify and will represent New Zealand at the Rio Paralympic Games which begins in September.

Wilrich CoetzeeAbout Pathway to Podium

Pathway to Podium is a nationwide talent development programme, developed by Sport New Zealand and High Performance Sport New Zealand, to help emerging athletes and coaches to be better prepared for the demands of a life in high performance sport.

For Pathway to Podium enquiries please contact Paul Strang – [email protected]

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