The 9-year-old swimmer who in the fast lane for the Olympics
It might be more than a decade away, but one nine-year-old Sydney girl already has her eyes on the Brisbane Olympics in 2032.
NSW
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The Brisbane Olympics may be a long way off but Aussie youngsters are brimming with confidence and enthusiasm for a golden future thanks to the nation’s spectacular success in Tokyo.
Just as many of our current crop of Olympians grew up to live out their dreams after watching their idols at Sydney 2000, they too have spawned a wave of children hoping to compete for the green and gold.
Maroubra schoolgirl Mia Hoo, 9, is among thousands of young children dreaming big after seeing Australia deliver its best-ever Olympic Games in the pool.
Mia, who shares her birthday with Australia’s most decorated Olympian, Emma McKeon, wants to follow in the swimmer’s footsteps at the Brisbane Games in 2032.
“It was really inspiring watching Emma do her best,” Mia said.
“I love being around the water and I also like racing because I love the competition and having the pressure on you. It makes you better and it makes you faster.”
Born in Wollongong, McKeon was six when she was bitten by the Olympics bug after her grandparents took her and her older brother David – a double Olympian – to the Sydney Games in 2000.
It is hoped another Olympics on home soil in 2032 will also motivate young athletes. Athletics NSW director Terry Mann, who has been in the sport for 25 years, was expecting a wave of enthusiasm off the back of inspiring performances in Tokyo.
“You look at the decathlon, where bronze medallist Ashley Moloney’s teammate Cedric Dubler followed him around that 1500m because he knew Moloney had to get a decent time to be in a medal position,” he said.
“Peter Bol is another one that captured the imagination, looking at his background coming from Sudan, found his home in Australia and had an amazing performance.
“I can’t see how any young sportsman or sportswoman won’t be inspired to keep going, with Paris in three years and heading into Brisbane, it is an exciting time in Australia.”
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