BAYLEY HALL (motorsport)

The young gun took another big leap when he starred during the GC600 in the secondary tier. With a changing of the guard looming at the Supercars Hall is well placed to jump into the next level by the end of 2020.

CHAISE RICHARDSON (kayaking)

The 17-year-old represented Australia at the Asia Pacific Regatta in New Zealand this year, which is a stepping stone to the Junior World Championships. After being the youngest person in the under-18 final at the first Grand Prix in December, Chaise is definitely in the hunt for her first World Championships appearance. She will be racing at the QLD State Championships as well as the second Grand Prix early in the year, before the selection trials which double as the National Championships in March. From there she will be able to solely focus on the Junior World Championships in July.

ISABELLE MASON (swimming)

The new Bond Uni scholarship recipient, 17, is a rising butterfly gun and is an outside shot at Olympics. The young girl moving to the Coast from Oakey near Toowoomba area.

“It’s kind of crazy that the Australian swim coach is here,” Mason said of her move. “There are so many amazing swimmers that are part of this program under (Bond swimming coach) Richard Scarce. I’m so thankful to be given the opportunity.”

MADDI LEVI (rugby union)

Levi was crowned under-17s player of the tournament at the Australian National Youth Rugby Sevens Championship in December and earned selection in the Australian side to take on the Youth World Cup. The athletic forward has one of the brightest futures of any player on this list.

ZANE STEVENS (tennis)

The 13-year-old followed in the footsteps of Sam Stosur and Bernard Tomic when he claimed the open title at the Gold Coast’s oldest tennis competition, the Gold Coast District Closed Championships.

With any such win against adults comes a new spotlight on what they can do to back up such an outstanding effort. Eyes will be on Stevens to see if he can rise again in 2020.

JAYDEN PALUDAN (gridiron)

Paludan grew up in America before moving to Australia but he hopes to return to the US and play professionally. The 18-year-old travelled to Sydney this year as part of Queensland’s national championship winning side, taking out national MVP in the process. Has been an integral figure in the Stingray’s Sunbowl hopes and has been named by Gridiron Queensland as a colts division MVP nominee.

JACK WATERS (baseball)

The 17-year-old this year signed with US division one college Grand Canyon University following a break out year. Waters represented Australia in the U18 series against Canada in Lismore in August and in May he was one of 25 Australians who travelled to Florida as part of the Perfect game tour. Waters has been a regular member of the Queensland side at the Youth Championships over the past three years and aims to one day become a first-round draft pick.

SABRINA HITCH (equestrian)

At just 16, Hitch is already the number one ranked junior equestrian rider in Australia and number 144 in the world. She’s already won eight national titles and hopes to one day represent her country at the Olympics.

JAKE FEHLBERG (lawn bowls)

Burleigh’s Fehlberg had another impressive year dominating Vision Impaired bowls in Australia, winning all four national titles and both Queensland titles on offer in his Parasport category. During a tour of the UK earlier this year, he notched up his 50th game for Australia and with his recent form looks set to play many more in the future.

SUNNY BOWER (gymnastics)

A Level 9 gymnast who claimed state and national titles as well as the Queensland Cup and Glen Iris Cup in a monster year. Trained by Galrina Yegoroba, Bower also took fourth ribbon (Senior International Division) at the Olympic level.

BIANCA RAYWARD (surf lifesaving)

While surf life saving is her passion, Rayward is also making waves in a number of other Gold Coast sporting leagues. In 2019, the 11-year-old made state and national teams for five other different sports so far in 2019 including swimming, rugby league, cross-country, triathlon and athletics. The Kurawa rising star picked up Aussies surf life saving gold medals at the Australian state titles in the ironwoman, swim and 1km beach run events.

REECE WALSH (rugby league)

A smoky to start at fullback for Broncos in 2020. The Keebra Park High School product is one who got away from the Titans.

CONNOR BUDARICK (Australian rules)

One of Gold Coast’s newest recruits, Budarick was the leading talent coming through the Suns academy in 2019.

Budarick was named best and fairest of the 2019 academy series, won by the Suns, before going on to earn selection in the under-18 All-Australian side after shining for the Allies representative team at the national championships.

The 18-year-old was pre-signed by Gold Coast before this year’s draft, securing his future with the club.

ALEX DAVIES (Aussie rules)

The Suns academy member has been touted as a Scott Pendlebury clone, Davies is a tall 189cm midfielder who was an All-Australian at the 2018 AFL under-16 Championships, represented the Allies at the under-18 equivalent this year and played in the Under-17 NAB All-Stars ‘Futures’ game.

LACHLAN JONES (triathlon)

The man who Craig Walton believes could be the most talented triathlete Australia has produced.

“Lachlan is one of Australia’s biggest ever talents,” Walton said of the 19-year-old.

Jones raced in multiple Oceania Cups in 2019 while his best result was a fourth at the Zilina European Cup in August.

L ORCAN REDMOND (triathlon)

One of Australia’s top emerging triathletes who has recently joined Dan Atkins Triathlon Australia high performance squad on the Gold Coast.

Redmond finished second in the junior men’s category of the ITU Workd Triathlon grand final in Lausanne, Switzerland, in August and will be looking for higher opportunities in 2020.

XAVIER COATES (rugby league)

A MEMBER of the Tweed Seagulls’ Mal Meninga Cup side that won the national under-18 title earlier this year, Coates capped a remarkable 2019 season with three NRL appearances for the Broncos.

The 18-year-old now has the chance to add to that tally with Brisbane next season.

LYNDON DYKES (football)

BORN and raised on the Gold Coast, the 24-year-old attacker spent time with Mudgeeraba, Merrimac, Gold Coast City and Surfers Paradise before joining Scottish Premiership club Livingston in January.

There, he has made every post a winner and is now closing in on a Socceroos call-up.

HUGO BURDON (cricket)

STILL just 17, Burdon is already a crucial member of the Gold Coast Dolphins’ first grade side and has also played for Queensland at under-17 and under-19 level.

If his career trajectory continues next year, higher honours are not out of the question.

DION SAMUELA (rugby union)

The Southport School’s premiership-winning, Australian Schoolboys representative fullback has joined defending Queensland Premier Rugby champions University of Queensland for 2020. Coaches figure he’ll start immediately as he works into the Queensland Reds frame.