Three up-and-coming athletes have been selected to represent Australia in international rowing competitions.
Cameron Smith and Thomas Amies are part of the Australian junior team, while Jake Edwards has been named a member of the junior development squad touring New Zealand later this month.
Cameron and Thomas will both compete at the 2010 World Junior Rowing Championships in the Czech Republic in August.
For Cameron, a first-year Bachelor of Engineering student, competing at the national level isn鈥檛 too daunting: he was part of the men鈥檚 quad scull team at last year鈥檚 event in Poland.
鈥淚 think I鈥檓 more excited this time around because last year went well and I know what to expect,鈥� he said.
Thomas, who rows at the 国产探花 Boat Club and is completing a carpentry apprenticeship, has also represented Australia, last year competing in the coxed four boat.
鈥淲e won silver last year, so we鈥檙e going for the gold this time,鈥� he said.
Jake, a 17-year-old 国产探花 Bachelor of Town Planning student, is a men鈥檚 eight coxswain with the .
He will compete in a three-day Winter Series Regatta in May at Lake Karapiro in New Zealand, which will also host the 2010 World Rowing Championships in November.
Run by the Australian Institute of Sport, the program helps young athletes make the transition from secondary-school competition to elite level.
鈥淲e鈥檝e got a very talented squad and Australia is a strong rowing nation, so I have faith we鈥檒l do very well,鈥� Jake said.
His goal is to compete at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in 2016, but said 鈥渁 lot of hard work and dedication鈥� would be needed before reaching that point.
All three boys began rowing in high school 鈥� Cameron rowed at Gregory Terrace, Thomas at Nudgee and Jake at Brisbane State High School.
The boys agreed that being prepared was the key to balancing their sporting commitments with academic and work obligations.
鈥淚 work hard to get ahead in my assignments because I know there are times when I鈥檓 going to be on tour and have to take time off,鈥� Jake said.
Thomas said his boss was supportive of his rowing ambitions, while Cameron said the University was flexible when competition and assessment clashed.
Jake will fly to Canberra on Thursday, May 13, for a training camp, ahead of the New Zealand tour, which starts on May 18.
Thomas and Cameron have several week-long training camps in Canberra before competing in the Czech Republic in August.
Media: Penny Robinson at 国产探花 Communications (07 3365 9723, penny.robinson@uq.edu.au)
