Injury has forced two late changes to the Australian Team for the Youth Olympic Games (YOG), which open in Singapore on Saturday evening.

Track sprinter Ashleigh Whittaker has succumbed to months of shin soreness and possible stress fractures while handballer Sonja Miskovic suffered a serious knee injury at the World Championships in Korea 10 days ago. An MRI scan is expected to confirm an ACL tear that will require surgery - a terrible blow for the star 18-year-old.

Whittaker who was to contest the 100m in Singapore has been battling to overcome her shin injuries for most of the year. In a further cruel blow she turns 17 on Thursday – the day the Team flies to Singapore. Constant treatment, adjusted training and shoe orthotics were not enough to get the injury to respond. She has been forced to take an extended break.

Fellow Victorian sprinter Monica Brennan, 16, was on the long-list for the Team and now has been added after the organising committee approved the replacement application. Brennan who has been the national 200m champion for the past three years feels for her fellow sprinter while being excited by the opportunity.

“It is a real blow for Ashleigh and a whirlwind for me,” Whittaker who was notified on Thursday said.

“This is my first time overseas and my first time in an Australian Team so I’m very excited. I really want to go to the Olympics when I’m older so this is a great stepping stone for me.”

Brennan who has a personal best of 24.74 seconds broke Cathy Freeman’s Pacific School Games record when she was 11.

Miskovic’s withdrawal is a big blow to the girls’ handball team as she is one of the most experienced players on the team. Her place will be filled by 16-year-old Canberra athlete Holly Tupper.

“It is very difficult for Sonja, she really deserved her place on the Team,” Tupper sympathised.

“It hasn’t exactly hit me yet. The paperwork was only finalised a few hours ago and I’ve been madly getting permission from all my teachers for assignments and trying to pack.”

Tupper who was Team reserve after proving her worth at the three Australian Training Camps is expecting some very difficult competition and a fantastic experience for all competitors.

Eighty-nine of the 100 members of the Team will gather at a training camp at Sydney Olympic Park on Wednesday before flying to Singapore on Thursday. The other members of the Team are arriving from Europe where they have been attending other competitions. 

Andrew Reid
AOC