AN Australian Olympic Gold Medallist will venture to Mount Gambier next week to support the Limestone Coast Regional Sporting Academy and South Australian Sports Institute cycling programs to conduct physical testing.
SASI head cycling coach and Olympic Gold Medallist Brett Aitken will oversee the testing held at Mount Gambier High School, Grant High School, Tenison Woods College and St Martins Lutheran College next Monday and Tuesday.
Aitken won gold in the Madison event at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games and also claimed bronze at Atlanta in 1996 and silver at Barcelona in 1992 in the team pursuit.
He will oversee the testing and display his Olympic gold medal to the students.
With opportunities to be offered to students who show promise, LCRSA coordinator Tony Elletson said the program provided talented Limestone Coast athletes the opportunity to be a part of the LCRSA and SASI cycling programs.
“The LCRSA is committed to providing local athletes with the opportunity to achieve excellence in sport and life,” he said.
“SASI is the leader in identifying and developing talent in sport and to continue our partnership will provide amazing opportunities and pathways for athletes in our region.
“Athletes who do not live in metro areas face many hurdles in achieving their sporting goals and the academy is working towards removing some of these obstacles for not only the athletes, but the families as well.
“The SASI cycling program provides specialised elite coaching, which will enhance and develop athletes’ talent.
“We look forward to supporting these athletes, along with SASI to hopefully achieve their goals in the sport.”
Grant High School will be the first stop on the schedule with testing to run from 9am to 11.30am on Monday, followed by a session at St Martins Lutheran College from 12.30pm to 3pm.
Tuesday’s program follows the same procedure with Mount Gambier High School students being tested from 9am to 11.30am before the final session at Tenison Woods College between 12.30pm and 3pm.
