20 under 20: A guide to the Gold Coast’s brightest sporting talents eyeing Brisbane 2032 Olympics
They’re on the track, practising free throws, facing balls in their free time and putting their bodies on the line. Most importantly, they’re gearing up to make a statement this year. Here are 20 Gold Coast athletes under 20 who you must know in 2024:
Junior Sports
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2023 brought glory to some of Gold Coast’s brightest young talents, from the netball court to speedcar raceway and everything in between.
With our 100 Queensland prodigies of the year revealed, it’s time to turn our attention to the young guns already prepping for 2024.
They’re on the track, practising free throws, facing balls in their free time and putting their bodies on the line.
Most importantly, they’re gearing up to make a statement this year.
Here are 20 stars under 20 who you need to know, including familiar faces plus ones you may not have seen before.
Roxy Rhind
Age: 16
Sport: Netball
Club: Gold Coast Titans
Rhind has quickly made her name known in netball circles following a quick climb through the Queensland pathway ranks. In 2022 she was named in the extended U17 state squad but was not selected in the final 16, though in late 2023 she made it that one step further and will soon find out whether she will compete at the 2024 nationals. The niece of international great Cat Tuivaiti, Rhind is an accurate and strong goal shooter.
Cooper Brown
Age: 13
Sport: Cricket
Club: Surfers Paradise
Brown is the second leading run scorer for the Gold Coast’s open juniors division 1 competition. He made a century on day one of the under 14s state titles in November and is quickly gaining the attention of top local coaches.
“He is our number three bat, and is a really good cricketer, probably will be one of the best bats in the whole tournament this year,” Callander said.
Riley Dealy
Age: 14
Sport: Cricket
Club: Helensvale CC
Fifteen-year-old Dealy has scored two hundreds already this season, dominating the junior competition. In one of the first rounds, she scored a whopping 149* off 96 against an all-boys side. The opposition coach had even offered a chocolate to the player who got her out – to no avail.
Kyah Anderson
Age: 16
Sport: Athletics (middle distance track)
Sixteen-year-old Anderson boasts some stella personal bests across all middle distance events. She has been a household name on the track since a breakout 2022 season.
Best times: 800 Metres (2:16.75), 1500m (4:33.71), 3000m (9:45.09) and 5000m (16:56.10)
Chantay Kiria-Ratu
Age: 18
Sport: Rugby League
Club: Gold Coast Titans
Kiria-Ratu was one of five teenagers that took the field in the NRLW grand final for the Titans in 2023. After a breakout season, she was awarded a Cook Islands jersey to represent her country in the Pacific Games in November.
Kingsley Uys
Age: 16
Sport: Rugby Union
Club: Queensland Reds
Now attending The Southport School learning his trade under champion coach Mike Wallace, the sky is the limit for this 16-year-old. He is tall, thickly set, with great hands and plenty of speed which makes him a nightmare to tackle. Kingsley was named captain of the under 16s side in 2023.
Ben Tweedy
Age: Under 18
Sport: Basketball
Club: Gold Coast Rollers
At 188cm (6’2), Tweedy is a guard for the Gold Coast Rollers’ NBL1 North side – one of the youngest faces of the team. While he continues to learn in the semi-professional landscape, the teen knows how to put on a show. The Southport School recently won the Basketball Australia School National Championships, and Tweedy wasn’t shy about showing off. He recorded an incredible 42 points, 10 assists, and 14 rebounds.
Joseph Lethlean
Age: 16
Sport: Athletics
This long distance teenager has taken the next big steps in chasing his Olympic dream. Specialising in 3000 and 5000 metre legs, Lethlean competed on the international circuit this year, finishing 12th in the 5000m in the open age group.
Ava Stephens
Age: Year 12 in 2024
Specialties: Heptathlon – specialising in hurdles, high jump, long jump, 100m and 200m
Major sporting achievements in recent years:
4th U17 Heptathlon Australian National Track and Field Championships.
Sporting goal: Qualify for 2024/2026 World Athletics U20 Championships.
Tyler Burnham
Age: 17
Sport: Sprintcar racing
Burnham is on his way to being the next Max Dumesny of Australian sprintcar racing, with the skills, passion and support to back him. The 17-year-old grew up around cars, racing go-karts since the age of seven, and has forever dreamt of making it big time. In September 2023, Burnham raced his first sprintcar at the first of three weekends in the Red Hot Summer Shootout.
Emerson Jones
Age: 15
Sport: Tennis
Jones made headlines in October 2023 for becoming the youngest player to claim an ITF Grade A junior competition since Australian sporting idol Ash Barty won the Wimbledon Juniors in 2011. She took out the prestigious Osaka Mayor’s Cup after defeating Russian opponent Kristiana Sidorova in straight sets (7-6, 7-5). The teen’s Osaka Mayor’s performance pushed her into the top 10 for junior world rankings, the highest ranked Australian junior out of boys and girls singles, with 1842.5 points. Jones, now a member of the National Academy and working under world-renowned coach David Taylor, picked up her first racket at four years old has not looked back since. With an ITF Grade A and top 10 ranking ticked off her list, Jones has one more major achievement on the cards: turning pro.
Havana Harris
Age: 17
Sport: AFLW
Club: Bond University/Gold Coast Suns
The Gold Coast SUNS Academy star Havana Harris has rounded out a superb 2023 named as best afield in Sunday’s QAFLW Grand Final at Springfield.
The 17-year-old was named as Best & Fairest at the 2023 U18 Girls National Championships and was as one of five SUNS Academy stars selected in the All-Australian side.
Ava Usher
Age: 17
Sport: AFLW
Club: Bond University/Gold Coast Suns
At just 16 years of age, Usher has established herself as a star of the future. A member of Bond University’s QAFLW premiership side, the young half-forward has already earned Under 18 All-Australian selection, taking out the 2023 Rising Star following a Round 3 display against Wilston Grange with 19 disposals and four goals. Usher was also named at half-forward in the QAFLW Team of the Year.
Sam Scott
Age: 15
Sport: Basketball
Club: Gold Coast Rollers
As one of the bottom age players on the team, Sam doesn’t back down from the challenges he sees on a nightly basis. Very crafty around the hoop, Sam has a nose for chasing down offensive rebounds and converting those into key baskets for his team. With a consistent mid range game in which he is ever expanding his accuracy from distance, Sam continues to develop as a young athlete who is always willing to learn and take guidance. Representing Queensland for both School and Rep levels, Sam is also a part of the current SPP Program. Sam will be extremely important to the title aspirations of the Rollers.
Indy Cotton
Age: 16
Sport: Basketball
Club: Gold Coast Rollers
Indy has already notched Australian and Queensland representative honours at a Junior Level, bringing home Gold on many occasions. A deadly 3 level scorer, Indy uses his length, speed and athleticism to attack defences, with his opponents defensive principles and schemes primarily aimed to limit his offensive prowess. Indy shows maturity well above his age, and a quiet leadership respected by his peers. He has a silky smooth game, plays at his own pace and the sky is the limit for him.
Kiara Bischa
Age: 18
Sport: AFLW
Club: Burleigh Bombers/Gold Coast Suns
The Suns Academy prospect was the latest draftee for the Suns following a massive year for the young key defender. Bischa was named as the SUNS Academy Female Player of the Year and the Academy’s Under 18 Girls Players’ Player.
Alannah Welsh
Age: 16
Sport: AFLW
Club: Gold Coast Suns
Welsh was named SUNS Academy team MVP, as selected by the coaching staff of the Academy program. She was named in the back pocket of the U16 Girls All-Australian Team following the 2023 AFL National Development Championships held in April.
Aspen Anderson
Age: Year 12 in 2024
Specialties: Cross Country
Major sporting achievements in recent years:
2022 U17 National Cross Country Champion.
35th at World Athletics Cross Country Championship 2023 (1st finishing Australian).
Sporting goal: Represent Australia at the Commonwealth and Olympic Games.
Tia Crombie
Age: 17
Sport: Netball
Club: Gold Coast Titans
Crombie is no stranger to the spotlight. She has donned the maroon dress many a time, including the past two years as an U17 team member. She is a specialised holding shooter, with the body control and strength to come up against players well above her age and experience. Crombie’s versatility continues to develop as she learns the game at a semi-professional level in HSS (HART Sapphire Series).
Ethan Grocott
Age: Year 11 in 2024
Specialties: Volleyball
Major sporting achievements (2022):
National Champion Beach Volleyball U15
National Champion Indoor Volleyball U15
Major sporting achievements (2023):
National Champion Beach Volleyball U16
National Champion Indoor Volleyball U16
Represented Australia at the U16 Asian Championships (finishing 8th)
Sporting goal: Win a Gold Medal in Beach Volleyball at the 2032 Olympics.
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