Olympian backs kids’ event
Olympic gold medallist and shot put superstar Valerie Adams has signed on as the Sanitarium Weet-Bix Kids TRYathlon Ambassador for the 2014-15 series.
Registrations for the North Shore TRYathlon are now open for kids aged seven to 15 and the event, which has become a rite of passage for Kiwi kids, will be held at Woodall Park on March 22, 2015
Valerie Adams has attended TRYathlon events in previous years, and is thrilled to support the 2014-2015 series.
She says the opportunity to encourage New Zealand children to get outdoors, get active and get moving is what convinced her to dedicate her summer to the role.
‘‘I was really sporty growing up and saw the benefits, so I’m an advocate for getting kids active at a young age. With childhood obesity on the rise it is even more important that we work together to get our kids outdoors and involved in activities that boost their fitness levels and their selfesteem.
‘‘The atmosphere at every event is always electric. There are so many kids who dream of becoming a professional sportsperson and for me, it is just awesome to meet them and give them a bit of advice,’’ she says.
There are 14 events across New Zealand running from December until April, and kids can enter as individuals or in a team of two.
To ensure even more children can take part, teachers and community leaders can apply for support on behalf of a child through the WeetBix Foundation. The Foundation provides worthy nominees with a subsidy of Sanitarium Weet-Bix Kids TRYathlon entry fees, or necessary equipment.
The Sanitarium Weet-Bix Kids TRYathlon events have a limited number of places available, so schools and individuals who want to be involved should get in as soon as possible.
The swim-bike-run events kick off in Manukau on December 3, and run through summer until the New Plymouth event on April 01.
The North Shore event is on March 22, 2015, at Woodall Park.