By Jess Baker
Following two weeks of non-stop sporting action at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, and last month’s announcement Brisbane would host the Games in 2032, the next generation of athletes are ready to make their presence felt.
Granite Belt Little Athletics centre manager Toni Jackson said with so much talent in the region, there was certainly potential for a local athlete to represent Australia at the 2032 Olympics.
She said recent results from local school carnivals and the Granite Belt Zone Athletics Championships demonstrated impressive skill and dedication.
“It really is exciting to see the great sportsmanship and determination of the children,” Toni said.
“And the children really listened to their teachers who gave them constructive feedback on their performances and how to improve their results.”
Toni said with so many local athletes showing promise, it was difficult to predict who would be competing at the 2032 Games.
Rather, she said the team at Granite Belt Little Athletics would do what they could to encourage children to continue in their chosen sport while supporting their families.
“It’s all about the kids having fun, making friends and hopefully the displays of sportsmanship we have seen at the Tokyo Olympics will help to inspire the children to continue with their sport,” Toni said.
One young Little Athletics athlete who has been motivated by the 2020 Games is 13-year-old Stanthorpe State High School student Jacob Kent.
Jacob has been dubbed one of the club’s most notable athletes by Granite Belt Little Athletics representative Daniel O’Dea, having recently placed second in Australia for Under 13 Discus at the 2021 Little Athletics National Challenge.
He also recently participated at the Queensland School Sports Athletics Championships where he won a gold medal and secured a place on the Queensland team, later winning second place at the Australian Track and Field Championships for Discus.
Jacob said it was a goal of his to compete in the Discus event at the Olympics one day.
He said he felt inspired after watching 25-year-old Allora man Matthew Denny do exactly that just last week at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
Granite Belt Little Athletics’ Daniel O’Dea said it could be difficult for “country kids” to train for competitions, as training often meant travelling long distances multiple times a week.
“But country kids are built with resilience,” Daniel said.
