Young Kiwis take on the World in Vegas

Young, up and coming Kiwis take on the World in Vegas

You may be use to seeing her representing New Zealand on the world stage alongside her triplet sisters, Joanna and Danica, but this time, Kelly Aitken is heading overseas as the Head of Delegation and Head Coach, taking over a team of talented young New Zealanders to Las Vegas. The talented young team leave for Las Vegas on the 19th July 2009 to take on the world at the 20th ANAC International Aerobic Championships and the 3rd FIG Aerobic Gymnastic World Series.

Earlier on this year, Kelly got a taste of being on the coaching and management team on New Zealand tours. In April, Kelly took a team of three top New Zealand athletes to the Suzuki World Cup in Tokyo as the New Zealand Head of Delegation. One of the team members, Chelsea Stitt, competed at the World Cup for the first time, after starting the sport at Kelly’s academy only a couple of years ago.

“Chelsea’s a very talented athlete. I knew from the moment I started working with her that she had a bright future ahead of her on the international stage. She’s achieved so much in such a short space of time. ” Said Ms Kelly Aitken.
The team had some great success in Tokyo, with all the athletes reaching the finals and bringing home two bronze medals for New Zealand.

In Las Vegas, Kelly will be taking over seven athletes in total including four of her very own from her aerobics academy, which forms a part of Achieve Academy of Sport and Fitness. Eight years ago, Kelly founded Achieve Academy of Sport and Fitness - a company which specialises in Sport, Fitness and Corporate Health programs. Kelly’s company works with business executives through to pregnant women through to international elite athletes and dancers. Her company focuses on creating life balance, educating, exploring potential, eliminating boundaries, creating champions and helping people realise their dreams.

“It’s a wonderful thing to be able to do - helping people realise their true potential and helping them realise their dreams. There have been so many amazing people in my life who’ve helped me achieve throughout my life, such as my family and friends. It’s great to be able to give something back to community and help inspire others to be the best they can be.” Said Ms Kelly Aitken.

Over the years Kelly has given back to the community by doing voluntary work for various sporting organisations and voluntary work for various projects including high school sports programs and high performance programs.

Kelly is a highly motivated, results driven, active young woman who strives for excellence in all areas of life. She believes nothing is impossible and loves to take up challenges and achieve the previously unachievable.

Kelly and her sisters, a.k.a.“JDK” a.k.a The Aitken Triplets began dancing at the young age of 4. At the age of 13, JDK began Sport Aerobics and took the aerobics world by storm. They have traveled the world successfully representing their country for over 10 years in sport aerobics, gymnastics and dance, they hold a World title, World silver and bronze medals, over 12 National Team titles, and have 10 years professional dance experience. They have also all completed double degrees at University.

“I’m very excited about taking the girls to Las Vegas. I’m so grateful for all the wonderful opportunities my sisters and I had when we were growing up. This will be a fantastic opportunity for our up and coming athletes to get valuable experience on the world stage. It’s vital that our athletes get the international exposure that they need in order to develop into World class athletes.” Said Ms Kelly Aitken.

Chelsea Stitt, Abigail Masters, Claire Darwin and Ashleigh Pettifor, all 14 years of age, have been training under Kelly in central Auckland five days a week in preparation for this event. Chelsea Stitt, Abigail Masters and Claire Darwin will all be competing in the Age Group 2/Junior International Division in the Trio and Individual Women category.

Ashleigh will be competing in the Age Group 1/Sub-junior International category. Samantha Donaldson, another member of the team has been training under Kelly for the last few months in preparation for the event also. Samantha will be competing in the Senior International division for the first time. The team have had support from Nike New Zealand, for which they are very grateful.

Whilst Kelly is out there inspiring New Zealanders to realise their dreams and become the best they can be, Joanna is working as an Award-Winning Architect whilst Danica is working as a successful Marketing Manager for Microsoft.

JDK are strong role models for the community. They are all passionate, conscientious and driven individuals. Both as individuals, through their chosen career paths and together as a unit, their long term plan is to create a very positive impact on both their local communities and the world at large. JDK hope to use their diverse background and vast skill set as vehicles for inspiring and motivating New Zealanders to go out there and achieve their own dreams.

Through the combination of all their skills, they hope to find ways in which they can make a positive difference. JDK believe they can do this at three different levels:

• 1. Through inspiring people, eg excelling at what they do
• 2. Through physically helping people, eg teaching and setting up youth development programmes
• 3. Through working at a higher level, to implement both positive changes and creating means for positive change

Nothing is out of your reach. If you can dream it, you can achieve it, www.achieve.ac.nz.

ENDS

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