YOG: The Youth Olympic Games (YOG) are paving the way for aspiring athletes to advance from sub elite sport to international competition and providing them with the experience to move on to bigger and better things.

Following their success at the inaugural Youth Olympic Games in Singapore, more than 20 athletes from the 2010 Team have gone on to wear the green and gold and represent Australia on the world stage.

Most notably are 2012 Olympians Liz Parnov (Athletics), Damien Hooper (Boxing) and Jessica Fox (Canoe/Kayak), who won a gold medal at the Youth Olympics and followed this up with a silver medal at the London Olympic Games.

Also among them is swimmer Kenneth To, who competed in seven events at the Youth Olympics in Singapore, taking home six medals, including gold in the 4x100m medley.

"The Games was my first big international competition as an athlete - and every time you race at a level like that you gain experience,” said To, who was 18 during the Singapore Games.

The Sydneysider has represented Australia at four World Swimming Championships since, winning two silver and two bronze medals in the process. In 2012 he was also crowned the Swimming World Cup Champion.

Like many of the athletes from the Youth Games, To credits the invaluable experience he gained at the YOG for where he is now- about to compete at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

“I believe the Youth Games played an important role in my career, and definitely helped me to get to where I am now,” he said.

“Transitioning from a junior to open level is never easy for any athlete, but my successes at the Youth Games gave me confidence to go on and to continue working towards my goals.”

To will be joined by fellow 2010 Team members, swimmer Emma McKeon, wrestler Jayden Lawrence, shooter Emily Esposito and athletes Nick Hough, Damien Birkinhead and Liz Parnov at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.

The Commonwealth Games isn’t the only place 2010 Team members are competing. Daniel Beale and Jeremy Hayward have since been called up to the Kookaburras side for the 2014 Hockey World Cup while cyclist Jay McCarthy has joined the World Tour, riding with Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank.

Due to the success of the YOG and all it has done for the thousands of athletes that competed in 2010, those privileged to be attending the second Youth Olympics will be keen to make the most of it.

To offers some words of wisdom to the lucky Aussies heading to Nanjing later in the year: “embrace the opportunity. Every big competition you are fortunate to compete in is another chance to excel and prove your mettle against the world’s best.”

The 2014 Youth Olympic Games will be held in Nanjing, China from August 16-28. Australia anticipates sending a team of 90 athletes, including a women’s Rugby Sevens and men’s Hockey 5-a-side team.

Sam Rawlings
olympics.com.au
@AUSOlympicTeam