Champion athlete Olivia Ridley completes a triple jump.
Camera IconChampion athlete Olivia Ridley completes a triple jump. Credit: Supplied/Marcus Whisson

Triple jumper has sights set on Olympics

Belinda Cipriano, Guardian ExpressEastern Reporter

The Mercedes College student is the national champion for Triple Jump in the Under 14 age group, has represented WA at Sports Acrobatics, Artistic Gymnastics, Athletics WA and Little Athletics teams and netball in various competitions.

Describing herself as a dedicated and enthusiastic athlete who trains hard, the 13-year-old said she has at times had to struggle with injuries to stay at an outstanding level.

‘After representing WA at gymnastics and sports acrobatics I decided a year ago to quit and do athletics after doing well at my interschool carnival,’ Olivia said.

‘After only a few months I was selected to represent WA at the Australian All-Schools championships in Hobart in November 2012. I went on to have a very successful 2012/13 season and further represented WA at the Australian Junior Nationals in Perth in March this year where I became national champion for Triple Jump, jumping 10.54m.

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‘I also finished fifth in both the long jump and 80m hurdles at the national championships, setting personal bests in both events,’ she said.

She also hoped to represent Australia at the World Junior Championships and then represent Australia at a senior level at the Olympics in heptathlon.