George's Pacific Games Opportunity

Running fast is what I've loved doing most, since organizing primary school lunch time sprint races as a 10 y/o at Papakura Central School.

I went on to the inter-school competitions and suffered a bitter (and not sweet) defeat to my-then RIVAL - a 10 y/o rugby player from Papakura Normal School. I took it personally.

Since little George, I've always been abnormally competitive.

Fast-forward a few years, and I was dropping seconds off my pb's, growing taller and thinning in the process. I joined a legendary coach in 2015 (Richard Kee), before podiuming three times at Nationals and breaking an Auckland record in the process. This was followed by a selection into the National Relay4Tokyo Team. It became evident that sights were set as a 16 year old, to do whatever it took to one day go pro...

Unfortunately... injuries.

First, a torn achilles and bone spurring in 2017. In 2018, I was dropped from the National Team. In 2019, I tear my hamstring in a season-opening 60m, and struggle to improve after. In 2020, another torn hamstring. In 2021, an MCL, plantar fascia and achilles injury, all at the same time and days before level 4 lockdown.

I left the sport due to mental health struggles following injury and deaths.

Two years later, and mentally stronger than ever, George returns with HUGE personal bests of 10.77s and 22.01s.

Soon an email is received from the NZ Team, stating that I will represent New Zealand in the Solomon Islands, at the Pacific Games.

Never Give Up.