Hard work pays off for Hunters Hill teen Kelly Parker at Australian Youth Olympic Festival

MORE than half a decade of early morning training and dedication has paid off for Hunters Hill's Kelly Parker.

MORE than half a decade of early morning training and dedication has paid off for Hunters Hill's Kelly Parker who won a gold medal at the Australian Youth Olympic Festival.

Parker, 19, won gold as a member of the women's eight at the recent regatta, as well as a bronze medal with her fours team and a seventh place in the pairs.

Parker took up the sport six years ago after she saw her older brother and sister row in high school.

She wants to see how far the sport will take her.

"I'm probably not thinking about Rio," she said. "But maybe the one after, I'm just going to see how it goes." The Australian Youth Olympic Festival was held from January 16-20 in various locations across Sydney, with the rowing at Penrith.

About 1700 athletes from 30 nations competed in 17 sports at the festival.

"It was really fun and great to meet people from international rowing teams as well as from other sports like the triathlon teams and the shooting," the UTS rowing club athlete said.

Parker is in her second year studying pharmacy at Sydney University, and juggles a hectic schedule of up to four training sessions daily around her studies.