TEAM: It was only last year when the Australian Youth Olympic Festival (AYOF) brought 30 nations to Sydney to participate in a five-day multi-sport event.
Fast-forward two weeks from today and the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) will see over 200 nations competing in Nanjing, China.
The 12-day event will be a great highlight in all competitors’ careers but it’s not just about the biggest event, they have reached their goals due to hard work and experience.
For thirteen members of the Australian Youth Olympic Team they were given the chance to compete in last years Festival as well.
Shemaiah James took part in triple and long jump at the AYOF and has also been selected to compete in Nanjing.
James says he was very appreciative of the chance to compete at the AYOF as it tested himself against International competitors and made him grow as an athlete.
“The AYOF was an amazing experience! I got to enjoy it with amazing people, which was great and I found the Olympic Village experience really cool,” the Queenslander said.
Fellow AYOF and AYOT member Brooke Anderson found the festival as a great stepping-stone in her young rugby career.
“The AYOF allowed me to play against some amazing athletes from different countries and it made me realise what needs to be done to act as a professional athlete,” she said.
The Youth Olympic Games will be another step towards Olympic success as all aspects are on a bigger and tougher scale than the AYOF.
Competition will be harder and the conditions will be unfamiliar as China’s summer heat is very different to Australia’s chilly winter this time of year.
Alex Hulley who won gold in Hammer throw at the AYOF knows that the YOG will be more difficult but she understands how to deal with the pressure.
“It is exciting to be in a team environment and live together, but it is also important to focus on performing well and not get too caught up in the excitement and atmosphere,” the Sydney-sider said.
“The big differences will be, the event is overseas, overcoming the cultural differences, the size of the crowd and the number of competitors in my event,” Hulley said.
For these young athletes it’s a defining moment in their careers, it’s their Olympic stage and their chance at a gold medal.
“The difference in the two games is that YOG is on such a higher stage, and also it is not on home turf. I think the atmosphere will be amazing in China.
Also there is such a broader range of people and talents that will be there, it will be fun to see everyone else’s abilities and what they have to offer,” James said.
The second summer Youth Olympic Games commences in Nanjing, China on Saturday 16 August and runs for 12 days.
To keep up to date with the journey of the 2013 AYOF members in Nanjing head to olympics.com.au and follow @AUSOlympicTeam on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Google+.
Phillip Brent
olympics.com.au
@AUSOlympicTeam
