Nine SKY NEXT athletes qualify for Commonwealth Games

Nine SKY NEXT athletes qualify for Commonwealth Games

Nine of the current 15 SKY NEXT athletes have qualified for the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

Middle distance runner Angie Smit, cross country mountain biker Anton Cooper, boxer David Nyika, cyclists Ethan Mitchell and Sam Webster, shot put champion Jacko Gill, Portia Bing in athletics, swimmer Matt Stanley and triathlete Tony Dodds have all qualified to compete.

“At SKY we’re incredibly passionate about sport and love to see Kiwi athletes doing well on the world stage. SKY NEXT is all about helping our talented up-and-coming athletes reach the next level,” says SKY’s chief executive John Fellet.

“We are proud to be part of their team and I look forward to following their achievements along with the rest of New Zealand during our coverage of the Commonwealth Games.”

SKY gives financial support of $16,000 a year to each SKY NEXT athlete to help them with their training and travel costs. In addition athletes receive mentoring from Olympic Gold medallist Hamish Carter and his wife Marisa. Marisa champions the programme on behalf of SKY and ensures SKY NEXT athletes have an opportunity to raise their profiles with SKY’s support.

Christchurch cross country mountain biker boxer Anton Cooper says: “Being surrounded by other SKY NEXT athletes in Glasgow will be great for camaraderie. We will be able to feed off each other’s success and help each other merge into what is a new sporting environment for most of us.”

Angie Smit from Christchurch, who will be competing in the 800m at the Games, says: “It’s such a privilege to be a part of this team, I still feel like it’s a dream at times.”

Get behind the SKY NEXT athletes - follow their journeys at sky.co.nz/skynext or on the SKY Sport facebook page. You can also join in their conversation with #SKYNEXT

SKY NEXT – Supporting Talented Kiwi Athletes.

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