He could be the brightest Otago rowing prospect since Hamish Bond - and now Jack O'Leary is being chased by the elite American rowing universities. Alistair McMurran talks to the rising sculler.
Scouts picked him out during the world championships in Lithuania and have targeted him for their university crews when he completes his final year at Kavanagh College next year.
O'Leary (16) has displayed a maturity that has impressed both the American scouts and the New Zealand rowing hierarchy.
He learned valuable lessons when he was a key member of the New Zealand quadruple scull that won a silver medal at the world junior championships in Lithuania this year.
''It made me realise the value of hard work,'' he said.
''I now have absolute belief in myself that I can achieve my goals.''
O'Leary admitted that he did not have the same belief before he went to the world championships.
''It came from the way we trained, worked hard and the way we acted as a crew. We tried to be as professional as we could and exemplify the values of New Zealand rowing.
''When we first started training, I didn't think we would do as well as we did. When it started to come together we knew that all the hard work had paid off. Injuries to crew members were disruptive but once we got through that we knew that we'd be able to work through whatever was thrown at us at the world championships.''
Standing on the podium to receive the silver medal was special.
''It felt pretty surreal. It was such a long build-up but now it was all over. It felt awesome. It was such a great feeling.''
That performance has given O'Leary another goal for next year.
''I will be aiming for the middle step on the podium. That is definitely where I want to go.''
The medal at Lithuania has confirmed O'Leary's long-term target in the sport.
''My goal is still the Olympics. It has given me a bigger taste of world rowing and how competitive it can be. It has strengthened my belief in myself that I can get there.''
O'Leary's partner in the double scull this season is Canadian Mark Alms (21), who will be attending university in Dunedin.
''It will be great to have a training partner,'' O'Leary said.
''He is one of the top scullers in Canada for his age group. It will be a great boost to our club to have a senior men's crew.''
It is more than 20 years since the Otago club has had a senior men's crew. It could enter the premier double sculls as well.
''We will see how we stack up against some of the crews at the Otago, Canterbury and South Island champs,'' O'Leary said.
O'Leary paid a tribute to his Otago club coach, John Parnell.
''John has lifted the standard of the Otago club and Kavanagh College rowing in the last few years. He has done an amazing job.''
Parnell was in Lithuania to watch his scullers, O'Leary and Zoe McBride, in action at the world championships.
''The satisfying thing for me over there was to see two Kiwi kids that I'd coached wearing the black singlet with the silver fern,'' Parnell said.
He has high expectations for O'Leary.
''Jack has his head screwed on and has a balanced approach to life. He has the potential to go a long way and ultimately to the Olympics.''
McBride has joined the Central Regional Performance Centre in Blenheim for the summer months.
North End club rowers Hamish Bond and Lucy Strack are based at Lake Karapiro with New Zealand crews and will represent the Southern RPC and the North End club at the national championships.
Jack O'Leary: The facts
Age: 16.
School: Kavanagh College.
Club: Otago.
Record in 2013: NZ champs, silver medal club double sculls; Maadi Cup, gold under-17 single sculls, silver under-18 single sculls; world junior champs, silver medal quadruple sculls.
