Some of the world’s best young athletes are gearing up for Olympic gold in NPDC’s parks, pools and roads.

Triathlon Australia’s International Performance Centre has brought eight budding sport stars to New Plymouth as part of their build-up to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

The squad has five Australian triathletes and one each from New Zealand, Switzerland and Canada, here for two months of intensive training.

They’ve been swimming at NPDC’s Todd Energy Aquatic Centre and the Waitara pool and running through Pukekura Park and other NPDC parks as well as the Huatoki and Te Henui walkways.

Coach Jamie Turner, who grew up in Waitara, says the district ticks all the triathlon training boxes.

“It’s great swimming here in New Plymouth at the NPDC pools and also in the open water. There are great rural roads, awesome for cycling, here in Taranaki, and great running here in New Plymouth with the trail network and the parks,” says Mr Turner.

Hosting the squad is a great reminder of how our district’s progressing in building a lifestyle capital with a great mix of facilities, says NPDC Chief Operating Officer Kelvin Wright.

“NPDC looks after 1,600 hectares of parks and 1,200 kilometres of roads that take in some of the greatest scenery in the country. With that and our beaches and pools, who wouldn’t choose to come here?” says Mr Wright.

New Plymouth wished the young athletes well and would be watching the medal podiums in Tokyo, he said.

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