Rotorua's 'natural playground' breeds Olympians

Of the city's five medals, shot putter Valerie Adams has two. Photo/File

Ahead of next month’s Rio Olympics, data about every summer Games medallist has been analysed by the NZ Herald to come up with the 10 places in New Zealand that have made the biggest contribution to Olympic glory. Rotorua came in at number eight in the rankings. The Rotorua Daily Post talks to one of our medallists and asks why we are punching above our weight.

So why has Rotorua enjoyed such success on the Olympic stage?

Sport Bay of Plenty's talent and development coach Dave Clarke attributes Rotorua's Olympian quality to a number of factors, with the most influential being the "first-class" rural environment.

"Rotorua is a natural playground and so the environment creates a community ethos for kids to have a go," he said.

"There is then a huge diversity of sports to choose from at an early age not just here but across the Bay of Plenty.

"So then kids can develop multiple and transferable skills across lots of sports which I believe make for better prepared athletes in later life."

In 1997 the Bay Trust coaches programme was established - 22 highly qualified and specialised coaches developing youngsters across 18 different sports in the region.

This has helped the likes of New Zealand Sevens Olympic captain Scott Curry from Reporoa and former Rotorua football player 18-year-old Paige Satchell - this week named as a travelling reserve for the New Zealand women's football side for Rio.

As well as team sports Rotorua has produced a number of Olympians in other fields including rowing with Brett Hollister winning the bronze medal at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics in the coxed four and Julia Edward challenging for a medal at next month's Rio Games in the lightweight doubles.

Of the city's five medals, shot putter Valerie Adams has two.

Lake City Athletic Club vice-president Pam Kenny said Adams was a "special and unique" sportswoman.

"Winning two gold medals is no mean feat and she has dominated her field for such a long period of time," she said.

"Athletics has a very solid base in the community and I don't doubt that a similar calibre of athlete will be produced again."

Swimming has also seen success, most recently with the inclusion of long distance swimmer Kane Radford in the New Zealand Olympic squad.

"There is a really strong community vibe that wants athletes to do well," said Radford.

"Being from a small town environment spurs you on to show the world what you've got."

Clarke said Rotorua's athletes were a product of their environment.

"It's almost like as kids they have an inbuilt fitness from the area because on weekends most families will do a lot of exercise.

"The natural geography of the region offers world class lakes which rowers can thrive on.

"And the Redwoods are a number one mountain bike area in the world, so youngsters are encouraged to get on the bike probably even before they can walk!"