The Olympic Games Experience Nigel Avery Olympian Youth / Growing Up

‘Probably my first ‘I was seven years old when I first started going along memory of the Olympics to the local athletics club – then East Coast Bays - and have been a member ever since - now North Nigel Avery, aged 5 was the 1976 Games Photo: Private Collection Harbour Bays. Along with all the others I participated from Montreal. in all the events but ended up being best at the I remember watching triple jump. I won the New Zealand age group and the gymnastics and senior titles in this event. I also represented New Zealand in the triple jump and high jump in 1985 obviously John Walker. and 1986 and shot put in 1998. From 1991-1996 Mum, Dad, my brother I was a member of the New Zealand Bobsleigh team and sister and I were training in Canada and Europe and participating at running around the World Championships at Innsbruck in 1993.’ screaming and yelling is ‘During my early years at East Coast Bays both my parents got involved in the club administration (Dad Nigel aged 6 (left), Simon Avery aged 7 probably the thing that is still president) and helped turn a small children’s Photo: Private Collection sticks in my mind… club into one of the largest and most successful I was a bit of a dreamer athletics clubs in the country.’ when I was a kid – my hand at Olympic Weightlifting and turned out to be reasonably good at the sport. With the guidance I dreamt what it would of Richard Dryden, my current coach, in just two be like to be there at the years I went from a novice lifter to winning two Olympic Games.’ ( 1998) Bronze Medals and after only four years in the sport competed at the Olympic Games.’ ‘Richard Dryden and I have a very close working relationship in both training and competition environments. He knows me well and has the ability to help me focus on the job at hand. He is methodical in his approach to training and very well organised. I trust him completely – which is essential when calling weights and timing competition warm- ups.’ ‘Mum and Dad at the National Champs, ‘Weightlifting is an interesting sport – it’s an easy sport as long as you 1985’ Photo: Private Collection do the work – you will get the rewards – in saying that the work itself was extremely tough. In this day and age there is no substitute really!’

The Educational Value of Being a Good Role Model ‘I do feel that it is important to act as a role model to young people. I am generous with my time but feel I would be able to put most back into the sport once I stop competing at an international level. When I was young I looked up to top New Zealand athletes as people I would like to emulate. I hope that I might have the same effect on some young people during my career.’

Nigel Avery – Olympian

Nigel Avery Competing in the Triple Jump at the ‘Tait Classic’ 21/1/89’ Photo: Private Collection

Nigel and Shelley Avery married 29/3/1997 Photo: Private Collection