Listed: Nine South Australian star athletes share their 2032 Brisbane Olympics dreams
When war broke out this teen gymnast was forced to flee his homeland and thought he’d never compete again. Now his sights are set on Brisbane 2032.
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South Australia is home to many up-and-coming sporting stars with Olympic-sized dreams.
Talented gymnasts, cyclists and athletes are among the young guns working toward competing at the 2032 Brisbane Olympics in nine years time.
For some they have always dreamt of wearing the green and gold on the world sporting stage but for others Australia represents a second chance.
Here are nine young South Aussies destined for the Brisbane Olympics.
Have we missed a future Olympian? Email eva.blandis@news.com.au
Ilia Horiahin
Age: 13
Sport: Men’s artistic gymnastics
Ukrainian Ilia Horiahin was only three years old when his parents first signed him up for gymnastic classes.
He quickly reached city, regional and national level competition and winning prizes.
“I enjoyed learning new moves, achieving new levels, and, of course, participating in competitions,” Horiahin said.
The refugee thought his sporting dreams were over when the war broke out in 2022.
Horiahin’s family were forced to flee and during that time the now 13 year old said he lost his form.
“I thought I would never be able to do gymnastics again,” he said.
Once Horiahin settled in South Australia, new friends introduced him to the local gymnastic community and showed him facilities.
He returned to training and said despite the challenges, he was grateful for the opportunities he had been given.
“I was thrilled to be able to continue pursuing my passion,” he said.
“Within a year of living in Adelaide, I secured the first-place position in the state-level competition in South Australia and qualified for the state team.
“Gymnastics has been a constant source of joy and accomplishment in my life and I’m determined to continue pushing myself to achieve new heights.”
Earlier this year Horiahin competed with his team in Brisbane, thanks to a grant from the Association of Ukrainians in South Australia, and is now working toward “achieving a new level”.
The avid gymnast said he dreamt of competing in the Olympics in the near future.
“In the gym I look up to the senior athletes and aspire to compete in the Olympics in the future,” he said.
“With hard work, dedication and the inspiration I find in the gym, I believe I can make my Olympic dream a reality.”
Nicholas Edwards
Age: 11
Sport: Ninja
Nicholas Edwards dreams of competing in the 2032 Brisbane Olympics in not one but five sports.
The 11-year-old, whose biggest passion is ninja warrior and the modern pentathlon, said he also wanted to reach a professional level in swimming, basketball, tennis and football.
Edwards said it would be “a dream come true” to compete in all five at the 2032 games.
“I’d love it, it would be such a dream come true,” Edwards said.
He said it would also be ideal if modern pentathlon which includes swimming, fencing, horse riding, pistol shooting and running became an Olympic sport.
“I’d be too happy,” he said.
Edwards is already well-accomplished in the ninja world having been the only South Australian male to be selected for the World Obstacle Expo in Florida this year.
“I’m really excited,” he said.
He will compete in the under-11 category in four events, Ultimate Obstacle Racing 3km Championships, Ultimate Ninja Athlete Association World Titles, FINA World Titles and the Ninja World Cup USA.
Tristan Kidd
Age: 14
Sport: Athletics
Australia’s next home Games may seem a long way away but Tristan Kidd knows he needs to put the hard work in now to reach his dream of competing in Brisbane.
The 14 year old has already won gold at the SA Athletics State Championship in the 2000m steeplechase – with his time of 6.44 seeing him ranked sixth in the nation.
More recently, Kidd attended the National titles competing in the 2000m steeplechase and 3000m in April.
The Adelaide Harriers Athletics Club runner now has his sights set on beating his personal best as he works toward the international sporting event.
Paige Cranage
Age: 19
Sport: Triathlon
Paige Cranage has been a triathlon champion for about five years and she has “loved every minute of it”.
“My goal is to become an Olympian or a pro 70.3 Ironwoman in the future,” Cranage said.
“I believe that if I continue to show full commitment, dedication and hard work ethic I will make it one day.”
The 19 year old trains 14 times a week including five cycling sessions, four swims, three runs and two gyms.
Cranage was named the Female Athlete of the Year and Open State Series Champion for South Australia for 2022-23.
She is quickly adding to her achievements including 26th place in the World Junior Triathlon Championships in Montreal, 15th in the Junior European Cup in Hungary and 2nd in the Junior Oceania Championships in Victoria.
“As I have moved up to U23/Elites this season, making big results against the older girls will be tough but I’m excited to see my progression throughout the years until I can match them,” she said.
Rebekah Thompson
Age: 19
Sport: Trampoline gymnastics
Trampoline gymnast Rebekah Thompson has always dreamt representing her country as an Olympian.
The current 2023 Under-22 National Champion in trampoline gymnastics has loved the sport since she started at nine – and four years later began pursuing the trampolining discipline.
“All I’ve ever wanted to achieve was to be selected for the Olympics one day,” Thompson said.
“It’s been a huge dream of mine for as long as I can remember.
“I love trampolining so much and I train every day to make sure that I have the best chance at accomplishing my dream.”
Thompson, who has recently relocated from Loxton to Adelaide, will compete at the Trans-Tasman Cup in New Zealand later this month.
Now 19, she said would continue to pursue her career in hopes of ending up at the Olympics one day.
“The Olympics is the highest level I can possible go, so I want to give it my best shot and show everyone what I can do,” she said.
“It would be truly amazing if I was able to achieve my dream.”
Ben van Raalte
Age: 15
Sport: Athletics
Ben van Raalte discovered his love for running while playing football about a year and a half ago.
“(I) enjoyed it the more I did it, to the point where I decided to do it as a sport,” van Raalte said.
In his short time in the sport the athlete has claimed the Under-16s 3km State Championship and placed sixth at nationals with a time of 9 minutes, 6 seconds.
The 15 year old said his goal was to break the Under-16s 5000m state record of 15 minutes, 10 seconds and eventually compete on the world stage.
“As a runner I want to become as good as I possibly can and compete in a home Olympics in front of a home crowd,” he said.
“(It) is a once in a lifetime opportunity.”
Van Raalte said he could compete in the long track races or in road running.
Iluka Rose Taylor
Age: 14
Sport: Athletics
It was her first school sports days that led Iluka Rose Taylor fall in love with running at seven years old.
Now, 14 she has competed all over the country winning four gold medals at the 2022 Little Athletics National in Melbourne last year and gold at the 2023 state heptathlon.
“My motivation for athletics comes from how it makes me feel,” Taylor said.
“When I run I feel free.
“Running has fulfilled me in many ways – it is who I am.”
Taylor said the 2032 Games was a “huge dream”.
“I’m so excited the Olympics are being held in Brisbane,” she said.
“It is a huge dream of mine to some day make it that far to represent my country and run.
“I know this dream is huge but how good would it be to make it that far doing something I absolutely love.”
Taylor said she was going to continue “enjoying the journey” and she is “extremely grateful” to her support network.
Georgie Fielder
Age: 14
Sport: Multi-event athlete
Georgie Fielder has been competing at a multi-event state level for four years and a national level for two years – and loving every minute of it.
The 14 year old has won national multi-event gold medals for the past two years plus in the 200m Under-15s hurdles.
Fielder said she was motivated by enjoyment, her training squad and coaches as well as wanting to become “a better athlete”.
She said competing in the 2032 Olympics would be a dream come true as she wants to compete at the “highest level and … on a world stage against the best.”
Sienna Nesci
Sport: Women’s artistic gymnastics
Sienna Nesci is a passionate sportswoman who was crowned Gymnastics South Australia Women’s Artistic Gymnastics Junior Athlete of the Year last year.
The up-and-comer won a national bronze in the Future International 14 and over category earlier this year.
Nesci also flaunted her skills at the Gymnastics Australia International Pathways in July and November last year.
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