Promising athletes share their visions

CALEB EDE (14)

Otago Boys Secondary School

Sports: Rugby, cricket, hockey and touch.

Highlight: He will be selected for the U15 Blues tournament team in 2023 and will be captain of the team in 2024.

Course: Monday gym, Tuesday rugby training and hockey match, Wednesday rest, Thursday rugby training and gym, Friday rest, Saturday rugby match, Sunday recovery.

Dream: Become a professional in rugby, hockey or cricket.

Motivation: My family and what they did to get me into this position and to be able to go to OBHS.

MASON LOME-HINDLE (18)

Otago Boys Secondary School

Sports: Rugby and rugby league.

Highlights: Highlanders U18 2023 and National League 9s MVP 2024.

Course: Four days a week in both regions.

Dream: To play professional rugby or rugby league in the future.

Motivation: The opportunity to compete with the best players in both rugby and rugby league across the country.

MELANIE KNOP (16)

Columba College

Sport: Triathlon and squash.

Highlight: Finishing top five in NZSS triathlon at Mount Maunganui in March. This event was an amazing experience for me as it was the first time I had to fly my bike. Another highlight was becoming an ambassador for MyRide Dunedin who have helped me achieve my goals over the past year.

Course: Six days a week, including 10 different sessions. Every week I do three swims, three bike rides, three runs and one strength training session in the gym to work on core strength and mobility. On my day off I like to play squash.

Dream: To represent New Zealand in triathlon. It would be really cool to get the chance to wear the Silver Fern in the near future. I also want to inspire other girls to be active and take part in sports.

Motivation: My parents let me compete at my level by driving and flying with me all over the country, and their support really keeps me motivated when things get tough. My coaches also help me by keeping the training sessions interesting and different. My friends help me keep going with their constant support and encouragement. Elite triathletes like Hayden Wilde and Nicole Van Der Kaay are also my role models. My aspirations for the future also keep me going. I want to be the best I can be.

JAKE SMITH (16)

Maniototo area school

Sport: Ice sledding.

Highlight: Being selected to go to South Korea to attend the Asia FIL Luge School in Gangwon. It was a 10 day camp where we learned the basics of artificial luge including starts and runs on the track. It was really cool to compare artificial luge with the natural luge we have in Naseby.

Course: Ice sledding is very weather dependent. In Naseby the sledding season lasts about eight weeks, so when there is ice I try to train as much as possible. When there is no ice I keep myself fit by doing sports and mountain biking.

Dream: To go to the Olympic Games in 2030.

Motivation: My love for the sport keeps me motivated. The chance to represent my country is a dream of mine.

SAM ROXBURGH (16)

Maniototo area school

Sport: Bull riding.

Highlight: Winning the novice steer riding title and becoming the first female roughstock rider to win a title in New Zealand. Words can’t describe how it feels to be the first girl to win a bull riding title. It means the world to me. My other highlight was being selected to go to Australia to represent New Zealand in the Transtasman Challenge.

Course: I ride my horses every day, go for a few runs and keep my general health good. During the winter I go to some training grounds and ride as many horses as I can.

Dream: To travel all over the world to compete, and prove to the world and my parents that girls are capable and can compete with the boys. I would love to have the chance to compete against the best in New Zealand.

Motivation: I get motivated by everyone around me. Rodeo is one of the few sports where your competitors help you in any way. There are always a lot of people who support you and want you to succeed.

RILEY JOHNSTONE (15)

Blue Mountain College

Sport: Cricket, football and basketball.

Highlight: Qualifying for the national championship with the Eastern U16 basketball team.

Course: Twice a week for basketball, followed by a game and maybe a representative tournament in the weekend. Soccer training is once a week and also a game in the weekend.

Dream: To play cricket for the Black Caps.

Motivation: The love for the sport and the desire to improve skills.

LAM DUONG (16)

Trinity Catholic College

Sport: Table tennis.

Highlight: Third place at national championships.

Course: Four days a week, three hours each time.

Dream: To continue enjoying the sport.

Motivation: I have a lot of support from my father and my coach, Martin Duffy, who make sure I keep training hard.

PHOEBE LAKER (15)

Mount Aspiring College

Sport: Athletics.

Highlight: Third in the 400m and several records broken at the New Zealand Secondary School Championships in December 2022. I was only 13 and competing in the U16 category against some very fast girls, so it was quite a challenge.

Course: Four or five times a week on the track, in the gym or uphill.

Dream: To get an athletic scholarship to go to America and compete in college athletics, because I think it would be a really cool experience. I also want to compete in some big international competitions.

Motivation: I love running and even on days when I don’t feel like training, it makes me feel good and improves my mood. I love the feeling of getting good results and seeing improvements after hard work. I am also competitive, so I like winning, which motivates me to train hard.

RAPHAEL ANDERSON (13)

Mount Aspiring College

Sport: golf

Highlights: Traveling to California and Nevada to compete internationally and winning the US Kids New Zealand Open U13 division at Windross Farm in Auckland.

Course: A week should be a balance of practice on the course, short game, putting, strategy, and playing — getting out on the course and testing what you’ve been working on. In the winter, I practice at least one hour a day during the week and two to three hours on the weekends. I play at least 36 holes a week. In the summer, I practice at least two hours during the week and four hours on the weekends. I play at least 72 holes a week. I’ve started strength training twice a week to improve my strength and stability, and I have a mental skills coach that I see once or twice a month.

Dream: To play on the PGA Tour and become number 1 in the world.

Motivation: The desire to be the best I can be and to win when I get the chance.