Eltham Lacrosse Club star Keith Nyberg to equal national record

He’s been in the game for many years and now, at age 46, Eltham lacrosse star Keith Nyberg is gearing up for yet another stint with the national team — and equalling an amazing record in the process.

Eltham Lacrosse Club’s Keith Nyberg in action for Australia.

Eltham lacrosse star Keith Nyberg has been nominated as a Senior Sports Star for the Leader Local Sports Stars awards.

Age: 46

Sport: Lacrosse

Suburb: Eltham

Club name: Eltham Lacrosse Club

Coach/manager: Adam Smith

What position do you play?

Defence

How old were you when you took up your sport?

I was 10.

How did you get involved in this sport?

I started playing in Grade 5 at Eltham Primary School, as the Eltham Lacrosse Club runs a primary school competition. It looked like a lot of fun and some of my friends were playing, so I thought I’d give it a try.

What has been your biggest success?

Being named captain of this year’s Australian men’s indoor lacrosse team, which is my third time captaining Australia, and seventh world championships, which ties me in first place with one other player for the most capped Australian representative in lacrosse.

What do you love most about your sport?

What I like about lacrosse is the requirement to mix multiple skills and attributes: speed, agility, strength, full-contact, skills with the stick, and the mental side of the tactical formations and plays, both on offence and defence. But what I love is playing, working together and being part of a team, where everyone is trying to do their best.

Describe the toughest challenge you’ve faced in your sport:

While trying to make my first Australian team, I was cut from the squad at an early stage.

I refused to give up on my dream and kept training hard, and eventually forced my way back in by outperforming existing members.

What is your ultimate sporting goal?

My ultimate goal is to win a gold medal for Australia at the world championships. It will take continued improvement as an individual player, as a team, and as a sport in Australia.

It may not even happen in my lifetime, but I am doing everything in my power as a player, and probably as a coach in the future, to achieve that goal.

Who are your sporting heroes?

Usain Bolt

Eltham Lacrosse Club’s Keith Nyberg.

‘I couldn’t have done this without …’

My mum, as she has always been my biggest supporter. She has sacrificed time and money driving me around to training and games when I was young, paying for state teams and national championships and even sending me to university in the United States so I could play lacrosse and be coached by the best in the world.

She has always encouraged me to follow my lacrosse dreams, and I hope I have made her proud.

Thanks to our partner Gold 104.3.

Know someone with great sporting talent? Nominate them here.