BUENOS AIRES 2018: Alex Halank’s journey to the Buenos Aires 2018 Youth Olympic Games (YOG) started with a point to prove.
The keen windsurfer had to show his selectors that windsurfing was a sport Australia was good enough to contest at the YOG, for the first time.
“The Youth Olympic Games had been my goal for a long time, but Australia had never sent a windsurfer before, so I wasn’t confident it would happen,” Halank said.
“I’d earned a place on the Australian Youth Sailing Team for the last three years but qualifying for the YOG Team was a different game.
“Only two countries could qualify for the Oceanic region, so it was up to me to try and qualify Australia and get windsurfing into the YOG for our country,” he continued.
Halank achieved his goal and in just nine days, he will be able to showcase his talents in Argentina.
“I’ve got three Junior World titles and 14 National titles, but there was no greater feeling than making the Australian Youth Olympic Team!” the 17-year-old said.
Halank started windsurfing as a 7-year-old after following in the footsteps of his father. As a child, he started out learning to master the winds of a 0.9m2 sail, now, his sail is 8.5m2!
“My dad introduced the whole family to windsurfing, it was our family sport that we would do every holiday, so it was always sentimental,” he said.
“Dad is my biggest inspiration, he’s a highly skilled windsurfer and always supported and encouraged me to do my best. I have him to thank for my love of the sport.”
The Sydney local also explained that he’s had to make some big sacrifices to pursue his love of windsurfing, including a free-ride in education.
“Windsurfing was not actually my first sport. I started skateboarding at about two years old and later took up golf.
“Later, I was actually offered a golf scholarship but had to turn it down as it meant I had to play golf every weekend, when all I wanted to do was windsurf,” the committed teen said.
Luckily, six days a week of gym, running, bike riding, windsurfing and school have all paid off for the Nowra Anglican College student.
Windsurfing is a relatively new sport in Australia, being introduced by pioneer Peter Nitschke just 44 years ago. With the sport still in its infancy, Halank travels the world to hone his craft.
“Although I am used to competing in Australia, the sport is still growing, so last year I travelled overseas to try and get more experience under my belt, practicing with bigger fleets so I could become more competitive internationally,” he said.
“Windsurfing has a lot of different disciplines like wave sailing and freestyle but windsurfing at the YOG will be racing.
“The sport is really challenging because you need a high level of physical fitness as well as good judgement and board skills.
“Windsurfers can reach speeds of up to 100 km/h but you can never rely on the wind being strong enough when you need it to,” he added.
Halank forms one part of the five-strong Aussie YOG sailing squad, including fellow windsurfer, Hailey Lea, mixed Nacra 15 pair of Will Cooley and Evie Haseldine, and Mani Bisschops who will represent Australia in another YOG first – kiteboarding.
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