Kyra sticking with the family business
SHE has a long way to go to match the deeds of her illustrious dad but young Kyra Livermore is doing everything right as she forges her own career in hockey.
Her father is Brent Livermore, OAM, one of Australian hockey’s legends who played 318 internationals for the Kookaburras and led that side to an Olympic Games gold medal.
Kyra is only 13 years of age yet has already had a season in open company playing for Labrador in the Gold Coast women’s competition. The teen’s latest achievement is to be selected in the Queensland under-15 girls team for the national indoor championships in Goulburn in January.
She has already represented her state in the under-13 side for the outdoor hockey titles last year and now she is up to the under-15s, despite not turning 14 until next month.
This year Kyra, pronounced “Kirra”, has played at under-15, under-17 and open levels and is involved in sports and academic excellence programs at Upper Coomera State College, where she is in Year 8.
For two years running Kyra has been named the Gold Coast Academy of Sport junior athlete of the year.
“She’s doing well,” was dad Brent’s assessment of his daughter, one of two girls in the family – younger sister Zoe, 11, is also showing potential with the hockey stick.
“I think both girls have a lot of talent and they both have a lot of drive and passion to succeed.
“Right now Kyra is totally committed to a lot of training to improve herself.
“She has a really good work ethic for a young girl.”
There’s no prize for guessing who is Kyra’s favourite sportsperson. “Dad is my hero,” she says. “I’m fortunate to have him as one of my coaches, he has given me so much guidance and handed on so much knowledge.”
Brent Livermore played 318 games for Australia, 67 of them as captain, and was skipper when the Kookaburras won gold at the 2004 Athens Olympics.
Livermore also won bronze at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, won three gold and two silver medals at the Champions Trophy and won Commonwealth Games gold in 2002 (Manchester) and 2006 (Melbourne).