Brisbane Olympics 2032: NSW teenage athletes who could set Games alight
In the space of 11 short years, the world’s top sporting talent will descend on Brisbane to compete in the 2032 Olympic Games. See what NSW kids could feature in the hometown event.
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In the space of 11 short years, the world’s top sporting talent will descend on Brisbane to compete in the 2032 Olympic Games.
The magical event, watched on by an audience of more than 3 billion people across the globe, will return to Australia for the third time and with it, provide a rare opportunity for up and coming athletes.
Looking into the crystal ball, we have identified a number of young NSW stars who – touch wood – continue on their current trajectory have the potential to maybe, just maybe, don the green and gold at a home Olympic Games.
SURFING
Surfing NSW CEO Luke Madden says a young NSW athlete has a “very high chance of gold in the 2032 Olympics”, with a deep talent pool of surfers up and down the coast.
The top athletes, aged between 14 and 16, are part of a High Performance program and have competed strongly at a national level under the mentorship of world class surf coaches.
“Our NSW Boardriders Club and High Performance surf coaching network is world class allowing the next generation to follow in the footsteps of now NSW Olympians Owen Wright, Sally Fitzgibbons and Steph Gilmore,” Mr Madden said.
The top young surfers identified are
FLETCHER KELLEHER – 14 YEARS OLD – MANLY
HUGH VAUGHAN – 14 YEARS OLD – CENTRAL COAST
HARLEY WALTERS – 15 YEARS OLD – YAMBA
DANE HENRY – 14 YEARS OLD – TWEED COAST
JUNIPER HARPER – 14 YEARS OLD – LENNOX HEAD
SHYLA SHORT – 13 YEARS OLD – ILLAWARRA
ZAHLIA SHORT – 15 YEARS OLD – ILLAWARRA
TENNIS
Tennis NSW development coach Jess Moore said it was a “super exciting time” for the state’s top young tennis players, that it was hard to believe the Olympics were returning to Australia.
Ms Moore said young players already in the state’s high performance pathway systems – such as the NSW under-11 boys and girls teams – could watch the Olympics across the next fortnight and be inspired by the Aussies in action.
GIRLS – VESNA MARINKOV, JIZELLE SIBAI AND BROOKE KOMROWSKI
BOYS – ETHAN DOMINGO, HAR ABIR SEKHON AND FLYNN SEARLE
TRIATHLON
EMMA OLSEN-KEATING
Sixteen-year-old Emma Olsen-Keating is making her name in the sport of triathlon, an “all-rounder” who has been a member of the NSW Emerging Talent Squad in recent years.
The teenager, who is extremely strong on the bike leg, is expected to be vying for a chance to compete across the world with Triathlon Australia in the next two to three years.
LIAM AND MONTY DIXON
The Dixon twins, Liam and Monty, have impressed in their time as triathletes are ones to watch as the years edge closer to the Brisbane Olympics.
The accomplished runners from the Hunter Region have shown huge potential in the endurance sport and with live-in training partners, are expected to continue their impressive development.
BASKETBALL
JESSIE-MAY HALL
Based in southwest Sydney, Jessie-May Hall is one of the brightest female prospects the state has seen in recent years.
A guard, standing at five foot seven with an indigenous background, Hall has been on Basketball NSW’s radar for some time and continues to impress on the court.
SAFFRON SHIELS
Novocastrian Saffron Shiels, standing at six foot, is a promising point guard with huge potential.
Good judges say Shiels can score, can distribute to her teammates and recently led a Hunter Sports High School team to win the state championships.
NOAH WEBB
A Penrith teenager standing at 206cm, Noah Webb is a strong physical player with his big frame under the hoop.
Webb is known to have a great base of skills, including an impressive rebound ability, and is still growing into his tall frame.
BRADLEY BALLINGER
An Illawarra product standing at six foot five, Bradley Ballinger is an athletic guard who can shoot from three-point range.
A flashy type of player with impressive ball handling skills, the teenager is one to watch.
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