TEAM: Being a professional athlete comes with an enormous amount of pressure, so combining training with study is one busy schedule.
For the majority of the Australian Youth Olympic Team heading to Nanjing this is the task with which they are faced.
Members of the Team are either in their last few years of high school, have recently started a trade or in their first year of tertiary education.
For kayaker Angus Thompson, his schedule comprises of five trainings per week which are completed outside school hours and also a few shifts as a kitchen hand.
“My weekly schedule can get quite full on,” the 17-year-old said.
An average day for Angus Thompson consists of waking up at 6:45am and arriving at school by 8:30am. Once school finishes, the teenager drives out to Penrith from Sydney’s North Shore to arrive for 4:30pm training. He returns home at around 7:30pm, have dinner and complete school work for an hour or so.
Edward Fitzgerald will be competing in Fencing at the Youth Olympic Games. His school in the suburbs of Melbourne have awarded him a partial scholarship for General Excellence and are very understanding of his absent days from High School.
These young athletes have become much more aware of their careers, knowing that education is fundamental but for now being an athlete is the priority.
Hockey athlete Nathanael Stewart is in his first year of university and finds it a lot easier to manage training and study compared to being at school.
“There is more time of ‘self directed learning’ and a lot less class time,” the Western Sydney student said.
“By doing this I have been able to coordinate myself in the best way possible to achieve what I want on the sporting field as well as getting an education.”
Alec Rasmussen who will be playing alongside Stewart in Nanjing is very appreciative of his school’s support.
“Well there’s no denying it is tough, but it is certainly made easier thanks to my teachers and other members of staff,” Rasmussen said.
To keep an eye out for these talented andeducated athletes follow @AUSOlympicTeam on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube and Google+.
Phillip Brent
olympics.com.au
@AUSOlympicTeam
