Sport Manawatu and Massey University launch new Athlete Development Academy

Sport Manawatu and Massey University’s School of Sport and Exercise have developed a new sporting academy to foster and develop the next generation of Manawatu Olympians.

The Manawatu Athlete Development Academy caters for athletes between the ages of 15 and 20 who have begun to break through to international competition, but are not yet eligible for High Performance Sport New Zealand assistance.

The academy is open to athletes from all sporting disciplines living within the Manawatu, Horowhenua, and Tararua regions. It offers athletes access to mentoring, workshops, sport science testing, and other services.

The programme will be led by local high performance coach Andrew Nicholls, who has recently returned from coaching duties with the New Zealand Youth Olympics team, and is personal coach to Olympic triathletes Ryan Sissons and Kris Gemmell.

"I am excited to get to work with some of the region's most talented athletes. By supporting their drive and enthusiasm with the combined resources of Sport Manawatu and Massey University, I will be able to help them on their way to becoming high performance athletes” says Nicholls.

Sport Manawatu's Sport and Recreation Manager Hamish Meacheam and Massey University's Ian O’Boyle are hoping the academy will cater for up to a dozen athletes this year, beginning in March.

“We are hoping to attract the very best young athletes in the region, and to support them on their own journey to become high performance athletes. We are thrilled to be working with Massey University to bring this academy to our region”, says Meacheam.

Applications for the Manawatu Athlete Development Academy are open now. Apply for the academy by filling in the online application form here. Applications close February 8th 2013.

For more information on the Manawatu Athlete Development Academy, call 06 357 5349 and speak to Sport and Recreation Manager Hamish Meacheam.

Applications for the Manawatu Athlete Development Academy are open now. Apply via the Sport Manawatu website www.sportmanawatu.org.nz  Applications close February 8th 2013.