Its Pathway to Podium programme has just helped deliver six winter Olympians and a Paralympian this week.
The first nine members of New Zealand's 2018 Winter Olympics team were named earlier this week, and six of them went through the programme.
A day later, Aaron Ewen was named in the New Zealand Winter Paralympic team.
``From our perspective, it is fantastic to see our Otago athletes reaching the pinnacle of their sport and having the opportunity to live out their sporting aspirations,'' academy manager Michael Coutts said,
Winter Olympians Zoi Sadowski-Synnott, Finn Bilous, Carlos Garcia-Knight, Tiarn Collins and Nico and Miguel Porteous are all past students of the programme, while Paralympian Aaron Ewen is in his first year of the course.
Wanaka freeskier Bilous said the programme gave him a great start on his journey.
``Pathway to Podium was a great step in my athletic journey, as it enlightened me to parts of being an athlete that I wasn't previously aware of,'' he said.
``Gaining some good knowledge when I was younger around the benefits of having a good diet has led to me remaining healthy whilst I'm on the road for six months of the year.''
Freeskier Nico Porteous (15) agreed.
``One of the seminars that really stuck in my mind was `who's on the bus', and I still quite often think about who's on my bus, and rearrange seats.''
The academy has 65 students on its books, 30 of them in the Pathway to Podium programme.
Coutts acknowledged the Otago Community Trust's support for the academy.
