By MICHELLE MOORE
NOOSA athlete Jordan Csabi will be burning up the track on the world stage later this year.
One of 90 young athletes heading to the Youth Olympics in China in August as part of the 2014 Australian Youth Olympic Team, Jordan has been selected to compete in the 200m. He was also selected to represent Australia and compete in the 100m and 200m at the Oceania Championships in Raratonga, Cook Islands, in June but has chosen to focus his energy on the Youth Olympics.
Earlier this year, Jordan, 17, became the Australian U18 200m Champion as well as claiming bronze in the U18 100m at the Australian Athletics Championships. It was those winning performances that brought him to the attention of national selectors for the Youth Olympics and Oceanic Championships.
“During the national championships in March this year, it was always in the back of my mind that I could qualify for the Youth Olympics in Nanjing,” Jordan said.
“Although at the time, I was just focusing on doing my best time, regardless of the outcome.”
Jordan’s coach and Little Athletics Noosa’s head coach Mick Hooper will also be making his way to Nanjing in August. Although not part of the official coaching personnel for the Australian team, Mick has been invited to be there to provide support and advice to Jordan during pre-race and warm-up sessions.
“Knowing that my coach Mick will be there to support me in Nanjing will be great as he is always a calming influence,” Jordan said.
“To be representing Australia at the Youth Olympics is just an awesome reward for all the hard work that I and my coaches (from Little Athletics Noosa) have put in over the last year,” Jordan said.
Jordan’s family are also looking forward to the trip to Nanjing in August. “We are so very proud of Jordan and his achievements in athletics,” Trisha Stephens, his mother, said.
“Jordan has sacrificed so much to get to this point in his career, and we are all looking forward to cheering him on from the stands.”
To help fund Jordan’s journey to the Youth Olympics in August, Little Athletics Noosa is seeking sponsorships and will be holding a series of fund-raising barbecues. For more information, contact Little Athletics Noosa on 0434 121 365 or email noosalittleathletics@gmail.com
