They came from across the state – from the Pilbara, Gascoyne, South West, Peel, Wheatbelt and Great Southern – to gather at the Woodman Point Recreation Camp in Munster. Here they would get an insight into achieving the ultimate in their sport, and tips on how to make the transition into competing at the elite level themselves. They are the 34 athletes who participated in the January 2010 Gifted Athlete Program (GAP).
18 February 2010
Becoming an elite athlete throws up as many challenges off the sporting ground as it does on it, so 34 talented athletes from regional areas across WA recently jumped at the chance to get some tips on how to cope with the transition.
The Gifted Athlete Program (GAP) ran on Thursday 28 and Friday 29 January at the Woodman Point Recreation Camp in Munster.
GAP is a joint effort of the Department of Sport and Recreation (DSR) and Western Australian Institute of Sport (WAIS), and catering for Introductory (12–14 year olds) and Advanced (15–21 year olds) participant groups, is offered to athletes who have been awarded Smarter than Smoking Country Sport Scholarships.
WA Institute of Sport Rower and Beijing Olympian Todd Skipworth was at the camp to share his own experiences with the athletes and give them an insight into elite sport. The athletes got a chance to ask Todd questions and not surprisingly, most revolved around competing in the Beijing Olympics and his current quest to make it to a second Olympics in London.
“GAP is all about helping talented young athletes to achieve a balance between sport and life by preparing them for the transition from a state to national competition level,” said DSR Talent Development Regional Coordinator Samantha Shields
“GAP gives these young regional athletes an even greater chance to succeed at the top level, which can be extra challenging for regional athletes who also have to compete with barriers like distance from facilities, training and development opportunities, coaches and competitions – as the name implies it’s all about bridging that GAP.”
The 12–14 year old athletes attended a four-hour introductory program with workshops on nutrition, time management and goal setting, injury prevention and sports pathways. The 15–21 year olds attended an overnight camp with a more in depth look at the above topics as well as leadership, self awareness, planning and managing transitions and drugs in sport.
Athletes who attended GAP on 28–29 January 2010:
Emma Cornish, 13, Squash, Bridgetown
Michelle Cornish, 13, Squash, Bridgetown
Breanna Dixon, 13, Athletics, Collie
Bianca Dawson, 15, Rollerskating, Gelorup
Aleesha Hanczakowski, 17, Rollerskating, Bunbury
Allira Hanczakowski, 15, Rollerskating, Bunbury
Paris Hawken, 17, Equestrian, Maragret River
Ben Johnston, 15, Hockey, Australind
Shenae Peterson, 14, Athletics, Dalyellup
Connor Bradbury, 15, Basketball, Busselton
Kayla Cabrini, 14, Archery, Collie
Ebony Cassady, 15, Rollerskating, Bunbury
Carey Watkins, 14, Basketball, Eaton
Keeley Allsop, 15, Hockey, Dunsborough
Jasmine Klumpp, 16, Taekwondo, Roelands
Jake Klumpp, 15, Taekwondo, Roelands
Jeremy Mason, 16, Rollerskating, Bunbury
Thomas Quaife, 15, Athletics, Australind
Montanna Randell, 15, Hockey, Busselton
Kristie Cabrini, 16, Archery, Collie
Natasha Rigby, 16, Football (soccer), Margaret River
Ryan Rowlandson, 16, Rollerskating, Gelorup
Chloe Buzza, 15, Hockey, Narrogin
Chaise Ludgate, 21, Equestrian, York
Guy Kalma, 15, Athletics, Albany
Nicole Giardina, 16, Karate, Mandurah
Karlee Gregory, 15, Karate, Mandurah
Emma Klasztorny, 15, Basketball, Mandurah
Mara O’Grady, 14, Rhythmic Gymnastics, Mandurah
Deanni Cowen, 15, Swimming, Herron
Jaimi Andrews, 17, Waterskiing, San Remo
Ashley Hunter, 15, Touch football, South Hedland
Harley Brown, 13, Squash, Exmouth
Noah Strom, 13, Squash, Exmouth
