Super Saturday has taken off in superb fashion under the summer sun at The Overflow, Sydney Olympic Park.

First crowds began rolling up at 10am to collect autographs from a number of elite Australian athletes.

Swimming sensations Kenrick Monk and Mereke Guehrer, Matilda midfielder Sally Shipard, athlete Karyne Di Marco, gymnast Alana Slater and Hockeyroo Lisa Carruthers all came to meet their fans, despite the scorching heat.

“It is great to get out here and encourage the kids to get involved in sport,” Shipard said.

Shipard competed at the 2004 Olympics in Athens at just 16 years of age, the youngest on the team proving that age is no barrier to talent. She is the ambassador for football at the AYOF, and at just 19-years-old is proud to act as a mentor to the kids.

“It’s great to see them out here enjoying the sport and having a go,” the injured Matilda said.

Stations were set up around the park allowing visitors to come and try a variety of Olympic sports under the guidance of professionals.

Parents and children teamed up to take on the sports on offer. The table tennis machine was spitting out balls to test each players hand eye coordination and the athletics crew were improving foot work.

11-year-old Mike Lihou braved the heat to test his skills, Super Saturday allowing him to be involved in the Youth Olympic festivities in a way that suited him perfectly.

“I am more of a doing person rather than watching,” he said.

19-year-old Sydneysider Kenrick Monk, who made the final of the 100m freestyle at the Melbourne Commonwealth Games last year, has his sights set on big things at Beijing. He took a rest from his gruelling schedule to inspire other youngsters to take to the water.

 “You can swim all around the world. It is a survival skill and everyone should know how to swim to be safe,” he said.

Sydney 2000 hockey gold medallist Lisa Carruthers was also out in the heat, holding a hockey clinic for hopeful youngsters.

“Hopefully one or two of them might pick the game up which would be great,” she said.

Carruthers has spent much of her time mentoring the Australian women’s hockey team at the AYOF, and believes the experience of being exposed to an Olympic situation with their mentors is extremely beneficial for these athletes.

“I’m amazed how well they’re doing…how professional they are, and just all the things they get exposed to now as a youth is just amazing, compared to say what I was exposed to at the same age coming out through the program,” she said.

Maria Tsialis and Nicky Park
AYOF