New Zealand boxing champion and Queenstown local Richie Hadlow is among a group of Otago athletes who have been named in this year's intake for Academy Otago and Academy Central Otago's talent development programme.
Athletes from 13 sports have been accepted into the two-year programme which has been supported by the Otago Community Trust.
The programme aims to arm athletes with the skills and knowledge in strength and conditioning, nutrition and mental skills, which will not only help them in their respective sport, but also in their everyday life.
There are 16 new athletes this year.
Academy Otago athletes are: Maddy Spence and Rory O'Neill from athletics; netball and touch players Abbey Johnston and Kiana Pelasio; rower Jack Laney; cricketer Georgia Clarke; cyclist Kees Duyvesteyn; golfer Abigael Crawford; hockey player Neve McLean and basketballer Josh Aitcheson.
Academy Central Otago has curlers Holly Thompson and Hamish Walker, from Ranfurly. Wanaka's Sammy Burke has been selected for athletics, and mountain biker Fletcher Sharman from Alexandra and Queenstown-based road cyclist Jo Swale have also been selected.
