New testing program aims to identify Olympic Games stars

Are you a power athlete? We reveal here how you can put your hat in the ring and boost your chances at being Australia’s next Olympic Games superstar.

Matthew Denny of QLD warms up for the Mens Discus throw during the 2024 Australian Athletics Championships. Picture: Getty Images

Country athletes are built different.

Shifting hale bales, chasing sheep and building fences helps develop a functional fitness base that is hard to beat.

Now a new Olympic testing initiative aims to unearth ‘farm fit’ athletes who want to go from ‘power to podium’.

The testing day at UniSQ’s Clive Berghofer Recreation Centre is part of the Queensland Academy of Sport’s YouFor2032 initiative – Australia’s largest search for the next generation of athletic stars.

NRLW and Western Clydesdales star Tara Reinke was an elite level powerlifter before making the move into rugby league. Picture: Benny Hassum Photography

The goal of the testing is to identify power athletes aged 17-25 years who could make a quick transition into sports like track cycling, rugby sevens or athletics.

The Fit Lab Toowoomba high performance manager Corey Wolski said specific skill development would be the only real hurdle for athletes moving into different sports.

“A good underlying physical, strength and conditioning, is extremely important for athletes competing at any level,” Wolski said.

“The better the level, the better potential they have to be good at their sport.

“It’s not just about strength and conditioning though, it’s also about building resilience in the body to better prevent injury, help recovery and other things like co-ordination and agility.

“A lot of what we do here is about building the (phyiscal) base.

“We’re not teaching the skill. We’re helping the athlete build the base so they have greater potential and ability to perform in their chosen sport.”

Testing will be held from 3pm on Saturday, June 22.

To register head to youfor2032.initiatives.qld.gov.au