Meet the top Sunshine Coast athletes taking on the world in their chosen sports

From lawn bowls to archery and taekwondo, the Sunshine Coast is home to world champions that you may have unknowingly passed in the street. See the full list.

With many Australian athletes gearing up to compete in the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham this week, it’s easy to see just how much sport plays a part in everyday life.

But what about those sports that aren’t featured on prime time television or the world stage?

The Sunshine Coast Daily takes a look at some of the region’s best athletes that you may not have heard of.

Ryan Tyack – Archery

It was a passion for the Age of Empire video game that led dual Olympian Ryan Tyack onto the field to compete in archery.

Originally from Mapleton, Tyack won a bronze medal at the Rio 2016 Olympics and also won four consecutive Australian Open titles, and won World Cup bronze and silver in 2018 and 2019 respectively.

Mum and coach Lynette Rankin-Tyack said they had been involved in the sport for more than 20 years.

“When I suggested he get involved in a sport, they didn’t have a fencing club back then so he chose archery,” she said.

“It’s rather unusual for a 10-year-old to chose something and go onto be a world record holder and dual Olympian.”

Tyack continues to commit to his sport by training six days a week working on his skill and in the gym.

“There’s a lot of hours and perfecting your technique, even though he’s been doing it that long it doesn’t mean you don’t get some bad habits at times,” Ms Rankin-Tyack said.

Archery is an optional sport in the Commonwealth Games and Ms Rankin-Tyack said she hoped to see it chosen for the 2026 Commonwealth Games to be held in Victoria.

Brian Reardon – Taekwondo

Two-time world taekwondo champion Brian Reardon believes those who compete in the sport deserve a chance on the international stage.

Coolum based Reardon said there’s much more to the sport than some realise.

“Martial Arts offers that little bit extra in terms of life skills and perseverance,” Reardon said.

“There’s a lot of disciplinary and parameters that come with it as well.

“It’s always evolving.”

After being inspired as teenager when he saw a sign for ‘World taekwondo Champion’ while playing tennis, Reardon said he’s been proud of the career he’s had in his sport.

Reardon runs ATI Martial Arts Qld and has more than 100 students based in the region.

“We just came back from the State Champions, five of them won gold and two silver, my club has won three world titles and multiple national titles,” he said.

“We’re used a pretty high standard when we go to competitions but it’s more people aren’t just there for competition, they’re there for self defence.”

Smith Connors and Auguste Korac – Water Polo

Sunshine Coast Water Polo players Auguste Korac and Smith Connors were picked in the Australian Men's Cadet squad. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Two rising Sunshine Coast water polo stars, Smith Connors and Auguste Korac, were recently selected in the Australian Men’s Cadet team ahead of the World Championships in Greece from August 21 to 27.

After securing a silver medal for the Queensland team in January, both impressed selectors and Australian coach Dragan Bakić, with Connors as captain and Korac finishing the tournament as the team’s leading goalscorer.

Korac, who is in grade 11 at St Andrew’s Anglican College, said the selection was a massive achievement.

“I played heaps of sports growing up but I found my place in water polo and so as you get older it gets more competitive and of a higher skill level so this year we had the opportunity to be up for selection in the Australian team,” he said.

Harri Jones – Motorsport

Harri Jones is making a name for himself in motorsport.

In just a few short years, 22-year-old Harri Jones has gone from a promising young motorsport talent to one of Australia’s most exciting racing drivers.

His rise through the motorsport ranks has been nothing short of meteoric and is now preparing to kick off the 2022 season at the Australian Grand Prix.

Born in Buderim, he first got behind the wheel of a car at the age of 15 and by the time he was 19 he took out the Australian Formula 3 Championship title.

A year later, he debuted in the Porsche Michelin GT3 Cup Challenge and went on to win the Championship, giving him a ticket to the most elite level of Porsche racing in Australia – the Carrera Cup.

Jones’ 2021 Porsche Carrera Cup season turned out to be an incredible success; he placed third overall and claimed five race podiums, along with a debut win at Bathurst in a highly competitive line-up.

Dre Stalder and Jayden Carrol – Muay Thai

Young guns Dre Stalder, 16 and Jayden Carroll, 13, were crowned Australian champions of their respective divisions at the Muay Thai League victories at the Gold Coast in 2021.

Stalder has been surrounded by Muay Thai since he was born and said he was thrilled to have won the World Muay Thai Organisation Australian title.

“It was probably the best feeling of my life so far being able to hear my name called after the fight,” he said.

“I love fighting and making friends within the sport.”

Carroll, who has only been fighting for two years, was crowned the 38kg Siam Australian champion.

“Getting my hand raised at the end of the fight was an amazing feeling and something I‘ve worked really hard for,” he said.

“I’m really proud to be able to show off my belt and take pride in something I’ve accomplished.”

Both fighters are a part of the Team Stalder Muay Thai in Kawana.

Julie Keegan and Katelyn Inch – Lawn Bowls

“Julie has bowled on the Sunshine Coast for a number of years and she’s even represented Australia overseas and in the Commonwealth Games for quite a few years,” Kawana bowls manager Kurt Brown said.

“She won a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games and is still playing at a high level when she represents Queensland.

“In 2021 she was crowned the Sunshine Coast District Ladies Bowls Association singles champion.”

Inch has represented New Zealand since 2018 at a number of National tournaments and Commonwealth Games, picking up three bronze medals and a gold medal at the 2019 Asia Pacific Bowls Championships.

“Katelyn has played and performed well in a number of high-level competitions,” Mr Brown said.

“She has represented New Zealand and is the current Queensland ladies champion.”

Jade Wall – Softball

Jade Wall has represented Australia in softball at the Tokyo Olympics.

Born in Nambour, Wall began playing softball at nine-years-old and at the age of 17 she was awarded a softball scholarship with the Queensland Academy of Sport.

Since then she has competed in the Queensland Open Women‘s State Championships, played professionally in Italy, and represented Australia at a senior and junior level.

Nick Haberer – College Football

Former Meridan State College student and Caloundra Panthers Aussie rules player Nick Haberer altered his sporting dream after encountering some early career injury concerns playing Aussie rules.

“I was playing for Caloundra and for the Brisbane Lions Academy and in my draft year I made the Queensland Allies squad so it was all going okay,” he said.

“I was talking with St Kilda and a couple of other AFL clubs but I had a few unfortunate injuries with repetitive head knocks and concussions so unfortunately my draft stock plummeted.

After relocating to Melbourne to try his hand in the VFL, he actually took up the opportunity to check out the Prokick Australia program.

Six months later the 198cm-tall punter received a fully fledged scholarship to Washington State University in 2021.

He now regularly plays in front of crowds of more than 65,000 people and in his first year at the college football level he was awarded true freshman all-American.