Taranaki swimmers selected for Pathway to Podium programme

Two top Taranaki swimmers have been selected to participate in Sport New Zealand’s talent programme Pathway to Podium.

Sport Taranaki will work with Eliot Lundon-Moore (15) and Julian Weir (19), both of New Plymouthfor the programme plus three other athletes from the area. Weir will be competing at the Junior Pan Pacific Championships in August this year.

The programme is aimed at athletes who are about 1-3 years from entering the high performance system. It gives each athlete access to high quality support and education through 1 of 14 regional talent hubs, Sport Taranaki being one of them. About 161 athletes have been selected nationwide, with more to be recruited from summer sports later in the year.

Alex Baumann, Chief Executive of High Performance Sport New Zealand says the Pathway to Podium programme will help to find the next generation of high performance athletes.

"Pathway to Podium fills what has been a gap in our system, and it will help build sustainability in the high performance system by supporting those athletes who will go on to compete for New Zealand in 2024 and 2028.”

“Up until now, we’ve really only been able to support those athletes competing within a four to eight year cycle. This will help prepare young athletes for life as high performance athletes. It can be really tough making that transition but this programme will provide them with both education and skills so they can make the step up.’’

Sport Development Manager Tony Bedford will head the programme through Sport Taranaki and says these athletes will receive both general education and their own individualised development plan, plus access to services.

“These include strength and conditioning, performance nutrition consultations, athlete life advice and mental skills training which will help those selected take the next step towards high performance sport.”

These services will be delivered through workshops and individual sessions with the athletes. Coaches will also receive support from their national sport organisations as well as regionally to help them develop alongside their athletes.