Kayla Goodwin - 2018 Youth Olympic Games journey and beyond

My name is Kayla, a 17 year old very focused, dedicated athlete, and I am seeking sponsorship to attend the 2018 Youth Olympics to be held in Buenos Aires, Argentina. It has been an amazing journey to get to this point and will continue to give my very best to represent myself and country with pride.

I am in Year 12 at Sacred Heart Girls College Hamilton. Juggling studying six subjects at NCEA Level 2, being a sport’s ambassador at school, playing and captaining the SHCG 1st XI football team and filling in where possible for the Hamilton Wanderers Football Club Women’s Northern League and Reserve teams takes a lot of energy and time management. This however does not stop me training every day, sometimes twice a day for athletics. My passion keeps me motivated and driven to work hard to achieve whatever I set my mind to.

I have been competing in Athletics competitions since I was four years old and have set lots of targets along the way and have achieved some great results. Long term I want to qualify for the Junior World Champs, the Commonwealth Games, Olympics, World Champs and Diamond League comps and I am definitely heading in the right direction to achieve these goals.

I am currently ranked #1 in New Zealand for Triple Jump, Long Jump, 100m hurdles, and Heptathlon for U18 and hold the NZ Record for both the triple jump and heptathlon.

Last year I was placed 5th in the long jump and 14th in the 100m hurdles at the Youth Commonwealth Games held in Bahamas. This experience taught me so much about myself and proved to me that hard work and dedication pays dividends.

I am one of only five track and field athletes from New Zealand selected for the Youth Olympics this year. I was selected after winning the Oceania qualifying competition in Vanuatu for Triple Jump securing #1 ranking and setting a new New Zealand record.

To attend this competition I need financial support as this is totally self funded.

To keep progressing to be able to achieve my long term goals I need to be able to compete internationally against the world’s best. Your support, whether it be small or large would be greatly appreciated.