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Little Athletics State Track and Field Championships triple medallist aims for nationals, Olympics

​BRODY Folkes won three medals in the NSW Little Athletics titles and dreams of representing Australia one day.

Local Sports Stars nominee Brody Folkes long jumps at Balmoral. Picture: Adam Ward
Local Sports Stars nominee Brody Folkes long jumps at Balmoral. Picture: Adam Ward

​BRODY Folkes started athletics because he loved running — anywhere — and now he has run away with the title of 2017 NSW under-9 100m sprint champion.

Brody, 9, is this week’s Local Sports Stars nominee in the Junior Sports Star category.

The Mosman Little Athletics member also achieved silver in the under-9 long jump and bronze in the under-9 200m sprint in the State Track and Field Championships at Sydney Olympic Park Athletic Centre in March.

Brody’s NSW state titles success added to his six gold medals and one silver medal from the Little Athletics NSW 2016/17 zone and regional championships.

Local Sports Star nominee Brody Folkes. Picture: Adam Ward
Local Sports Star nominee Brody Folkes. Picture: Adam Ward

The track and field athlete is also considered one of the most promising juniors at his club, having won the junior boy title for the past two seasons and the age champion title for four years.

“Since I was six I’ve been with Mosman Little Athletics. I like competing and meeting new friends and just running around,” Brody said.

“Probably winning the gold, silver and bronze at the 2017 Little Athletics state championships has been my biggest achievement.”

Brody also has a number of athletics achievements from Mosman Prep, where he is in Year 4. He trains three to four times a week and takes the initiative to put in extra time.

Brody said his desire to improve his race times helped him to stay motivated to train.

“Just getting down to the training can be challenging, because sometimes you don’t feel like training, but if you want to win, you just have to go down and train,” he said.

“If you don’t train, you’re not going to be the best.”

Brody said he liked to set goals.

Little Athletics athlete Brody Folkes at Balmoral. Picture: Adam Ward
Little Athletics athlete Brody Folkes at Balmoral. Picture: Adam Ward

“I know that if I just train hard, I know that I’m going to do really well and that my effort I put in in training will be rewarded,” he said.

Brody also prefers a healthy diet to help him stay race fit.

“I try and eat like healthy food, like fruit and vegetables most of the time,” he said.

“But every time after an event I will ask for Skittles. I like Skittles; they are like a treat.”

Brody thanked his family and coaches for their support.

“I want to represent NSW: I want to try and get to nationals this year,” he said.

“And I want to try later on in life to go to the Olympics.”

Nominate a Local Sports Star online at dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/localsportsstars

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Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/localsportsstars/little-athletics-state-track-and-field-championships-triple-medallist-aims-for-nationals-olympics/news-story/f8c38bbe8acb849599f37e42686b2869