Maddison Wesche World Youth Champs

My dream has become a reality and I have been selected in the New Zealand World Youth Athletic team.

The World Youth Championship is to be held in Cali, Columbia this year in July.

I will be representing NZ for shot put.

I am 15 years old and am currently ranked 8th in the world for Under 18's. I will be the first shot put girl to represent NZ at these games since Valerie Adams. As well as qualifying for World Youths, I have recently achieved a personal goal of retaining the title for NZ Under 18 and NZ Under 20 womens shot put. I also won the gold recently at the Australian Champs under 17 girls shot put. I also hold the title for New Zealand Secondary Schools girls shot put. I also hold the Auckland record for junior girls shot put (beating the seniors) and the West Auckland junior girls shot put (beating the seniors).

I also broke Valerie Adams record for North Island Secondary Schools girls shot put in march this year.

I attend Lynfield College and train 7 days a week. I am lucky to be trained by Walter Gill and have great friends and family support.

I truly hope to make New Zealand proud at the upcoming World games.

I thank you in advance for your support and hope I am able to return the generosity to you one day.

The funds that we raise will be used to transport me to Columbia and my stay (there are only 6 athletes that have qualified and we must pay for ourselves), we will need to travel to America three weeks before the event in order to get use to the climate as it is due to be 32+ degrees and at a high altitude when we are there and when we compete. We will also compete in a couple of introduction comp's. It will cover transport, flights, competition fees, accommodation and meals while there. I am due to be away for up to four weeks. This all happens when we have NCEA exams and internals so I will be working hard right up until I go and when I come back.