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Athletes aged 13 to 30 are being invited to register for testing sessions in Cairns as part of the Queensland Academy of Sport’s (QAS) YouFor2032 Talent Identification Program.
It’s a state-wide quest to find the next Olympic and Paralympic champions ahead of Brisbane’s 2032 Games.
The Cairns sessions take part from this Friday at Trinity Bay State High School.
Smithfield State High School will also host sessions over the weekend.
Young people aged 13 to 23 are eligible to be scouted for the Olympic Games, while those aged 13 to 30 can put themselves forward for the Paralympics.
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Aspiring athletes will be put through a series of endurance, agility and speed exercises, amongst others.
QAS CEO Chelsea Warr said she expects a total of 50,000 registrations, with talent scouts selecting 20,000 young Queenslanders for comprehensive athletic testing.
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“We want to provide you an opportunity to see how good you could be, while recognising the journey of pursing excellence is demanding,” she said.
400 athletes will be selected, giving them access to top coaches, facilities and support to accelerate development across 17 sports, from triathlon to sprint canoeing.
Ambassador and 11-time Olympic medallist Emma McKeon is encouraging Far North Queensland’s talented young athletes to take the leap.
“There is nothing more rewarding than working towards a goal and pushing to be the best version of yourself,” she said.
“I am incredibly excited to help the Queensland Academy of Sport, who have been pivotal in the road to my Olympic success, on their quest to find the next generation of medallists.”
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Sporting prowess is just the start of what selectors are looking for.
Each athlete will be assessed for speed, endurance, agility, resilience, cognitive ability, a winning mindset and determination to work hard.
Paralympics Australia CEO Catherine Clark said the latter traits are common in Queenslanders.
“High-performance requires incredible courage, hard work and perseverance,” she said.
“These are traits Queenslanders are renowned for, so I am confident we are going to unearth some exciting talent.”
To register and for more information, head to the program’s website.
Main points
- Young FNQ athletes can register to be tested by talent scouts for the Brisbane 2032 Olympics
- Able-bodied athletes aged 13-23 and para-athletes aged 13-30 are eligible
- The testing sessions will take place from this Friday in Cairns
