Young guns pushing for top
The Youth Olympic Games get under way in Buenos Aires today, with 61 New Zealand athletes in action over the next two weeks. Niall Anderson picks five that could find their way on to the podium.
Introduced in 2010, the Youth Olympic Games have been a proving ground for some of New Zealand’s finest young athletes, with the likes of Joseph Parker, Jacko Gill and Dylan Schmidt having won medals at the Games before building their professional careers. New Zealand won four medals in 2010 and five in 2014, and there are several interesting storylines to follow as the Kiwi athletes hit centre stage.
Kanah Andrews-Nahu (Weightlifting)
Andrews-Nahu is one of New Zealand’s most promising young athletes, having broken a ludicrous 123 New Zealand records, and now she’s taking on the world. The 17-year-old projects as a decent medal chance in Buenos Aires, having won gold in three different divisions at the Oceania Weightlifting Championships in June. Coached by Commonwealth Games gold medal winning lifter Richie Patterson, Andrews-Nahu’s big goal is qualifying for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics – but she could make an early splash in Argentina.
Max De Geest (Basketball)
One of the best prospects in New Zealand basketball, De Geest’s busy schedules includes a trip to the Olympics. The 18-year-old sharpshooter played in the National Basketball League for the Canterbury Rams, and impressed enough to be selected to the New Zealand Breakers as a development player.
The Oamaru product was then named the MVP of the gold medal-winning under-18 3x3 team at the Asia Cup, and will link up with Joseph Ahie, Thomas Whyte and James Moors as part of the 3x3 team playing in Argentina. De Geest will then head back to the Breakers for the Australian NBL season, before joining Division One college Long Beach State next year.
Jimmy Zheng (Golf)
Zheng will be hoping to repeat his feats from last month when he hits the course in Argentina. Zheng carded a remarkable 12-under par 60 to win the New Zealand Secondary Schools Champs in Palmerston North, proving why he was an easy selection to represent New Zealand in the individual event at the Youth Olympics. Zheng will also link up with Juliana Hung in the mixed team event.
Connor Bell (Athletics)
The 17-year-old discus prospect won gold at the 2017 Commonwealth Youth Games, and looks a good shout for a medal in Argentina. Bell holds national records at U19, U18 and U17 level, is the U18 and U20 national champ and ranked second in the world at U18 discus.