IBSA WORLD YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIPS

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO, USA - 4th to 9th August, 2005.

Sports for this event include athletics, goalball, judo and swimming.

Blind Sport New Zealand sent a small team to compete in this event.

VENUE
The venue in Colorado Springs was the Colorado College. This is where the participants were accommodated.
Goalball and Judo were held in College facilities. Swimming was held at the US Olympic Training Centre which is located in the city. Track and Field events were held at Garry Barry Stadium, Wasoon High School.

THE TEAM
Chef de Mission was Ray McLeod who lead the team to the IBSA World Championships in Quebec, 2003.

Athletes were -

Daniel Sharp (17), Laingholm, Auckland in swimming. Daniel competed in the 2003 IBSA World Championships in Quebec. He came home from this event with a silver and 2 bronze medals. In last years Paralympics in Athens he came home with a bronze medal.

Scott Siakia (15), Hamilton in track and field. This is Scott's first venture into major international competition. Already he has competed for his Hamilton club in the Colgate Games and last year took part in the Southern Cross Games for Vision Impaired students in Sydney.

The coaches accompanying the athletes were -

Des Siakia (Hamilton) track and field coach. Des replaced track coach who took ill days before the team left.
Adam Polson (Auckland) swim coach. Adam has been coaching swimming for a number of years. His charges include Daniel. Adam is currently studying at Auckland University.

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The team is appreciative of the support shown from the following organisations:

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Show your support for the team. Email them:

team@blindsport.org.nz - The TEAM

daniel@blindsport.org.nz - DANIEL SHARP

scott@blindsport.org.nz - SCOTT SIAKIA

The team left Auckland on Flight NZ 6 1st August to acclimatise to the altutude in Colorado Springs.
They returned on the 11th and 13th August.

THE RESULTS

Scott Siakia competed in his first major international competition. He was in the 100 and 400m and Long jump.
In the heats of the 100m he achieved a personal best time. This put him into the final where he came 5th. Great result for Scott.

Daniel Sharp was entered in the 50m breaststroke despite us not entering him. The decision was taken to also compete in this event. There was a question about timing of one or two events. At the end of the day Daniel competed in these events - 7 in all. The 400m freestyle was going to be a challenge when looking at the seedings. On the day he kept up with the leaders to take the SILVER medal in the combined event.

The six GOLD medals Daniel won were in the 50 and 100m breaststroke; and the 50, 100, 200 and 400m freestyle.

See results/records page to access Official results of the Championships.