READY FOR ANY HURDLE THAT COMES THEIR WAY

LIKE the city they live in, top young athletes Abbey Gibson and Conor RivalloGriffin will face a number of hurdles in the next 10 years.

But they are going to tackle them as fast as they can because the sky is the limit.

Abbey, 14, and Conor, 12, are promising athletes from Gold Coast Little Athletics and hope to be on the track at the 2032 Olympic Games held in their own backyard.

Abbey took part in former Olympic champion Glynis Nunn’s Future Stars program, which aims to equip young athletes with the training foundations for upcoming chapters in their journey, both on and off the track. “It was a great experience for me and I learnt so many new things,” she said.

Conor has trained since the age of eight and says he would “love” to compete in the Games.

He says his coach Chris Lewis has taken his training to the “next level”.

The pair have a yellow brick road to follow. The Gold Coast has been a nursery for Olympic greats such as Sally Pearson, Grant Hackett, Mat Belcher and Glynis Nunn. That does not include a plethora of surfing, motorsport, soccer, AFL, lifesaving, triathlon, netball, rugby and rugby league greats.

Gold Coast Athletics president Steve Langley said: “With the 2032 Olympics locked in for Brisbane and in the spotlight, it’s something that is definitely on the minds of all our young athletes.

“We always find the kids who are on the fringe of medalling at nationals are usually the ones who go through to competing in the Olympics. Surprisingly, the ones who are winning all the time don’t.

“The single most important factor in encouraging young athletes to stay in sport is to always ensure they are first and foremost having fun.”