Meteoric success no pipe dream

Diederik's family give logistical support. Photo / Mark Mitchell

If you want a bocce match with Diederik Struick just be prepared to take on his mum, his dad and his sister too.

The 16-year-old was turning heads with his bocce method, which is an all-in family affair, at the Special Olympics New Zealand National Summer Games in Palmerston North.

More than 1000 athletes are in town competing in the seventh games that started yesterday.

While Diederik's rise in the sport has been a surprising one, it is his method that has been raising eyebrows.

His coach Mike Smith introduced him to the game earlier this year when Diederik's family were at the bocce courts at the Laird Sports Complex in Wanganui.

"His family wanted him to participate in some sport so I just went to the caretaker's shed out the back got a pvc pipe and came back and said 'here , use this'," he said.

"He put it on his wheelchair, rolled the ball through it and he was away, honestly mate he has never looked back."

But for Diederik to compete in his bocce matches he needs family help.

He gives the nod to his sister Darni or dad Jacq to line up his wheelchair in the right position.

He then uses head movements to tell his mother Corrie which way to aim the pvc pipe, while Darni or Jacq keep his hand steady on the ball.

When he is ready he flicks the ball through the pipe, giving it just the right amount of pressure to get the ball as close as he can to the pallino.

"You'd be surprised how close he usually gets to it," said Mr Smith.

Also surprising have been Diederik's results - which include a gold medal in the pairs at the regional games in Palmerston North three months ago.

"He will be one to watch here, for sure," said Mr Smith.

Jacq Struijck said with Diederik's cerebral palsy there were not many opportunities for him to participate in activities.

"Because he can't control his movement we had to come up with a device to help him play the game which as you can see is a modified drain pipe," he said.

"He's competitive and takes it seriously but the best thing is it keeps him smiling, it makes him happy."