Doctors on the road to the Olympics
Two of our junior doctors , brother and sister Bryden and Ella Nicholas are heading to Rio , Brazil this month for a training block as preparation for the Olympics where they will both compete in white water Canoe Slalom .
Having both started kayaking here in Tauranga as 12 year olds through their local schools ( Tauranga Boys and Girls College ) they went on to make NZ rep teams at both junior and senior levels . They now represent the Cook Islands , the homeland of their local GP father Rob Nicholas .
Ella , a first year House Officer , explains , " Although we have always lived in New Zealand , we were raised as both Cook Islanders and Kiwis and are very proud to be representing the Cooks ".
It will be the second Olympics for Ella who took a year out from her medical studies in 2012 to compete in London placing 18th overall .
Bryden , who worked in Auckland for a couple of years as a House Officer has returned home to Tauranga this year as an Orthopaedic registrar .
‘ I took last year off work to travel and train in Europe and was lucky enough to qualify for the Olympics at the World Championships in London .’
They both admit it has been challenging to balance their sport around their busy lives with early morning trainings , work in the Hospital gym ( with trainer Crawford Rob ) and regular trips to the Kaituna River , near Rotorua , after work and during the weekends .
" It ' s been a gruelling schedule combining work and training . But kayaking is definitely one of the things that helps me unwind ".
Added to the paddling mix recently is New Zealand ' s first artificial course in Manukau .
" The new Vector Wero White Water course , near Rainbows End , has been fantastic in our lead up as it mimics the bigger water we will be racing on in Brazil . Most of our competitors have regular access to this type of environment so it will be exciting for us to get to Rio and finally train on the course we will race on ," says Ella .
Both Ella and Bryden have taken leave from their jobs in preparation for the games . We wish them all the best for their build up and racing in Rio .
Canoe Slalom Racing takes place on the 7th-11th of August . For links to local canoe slalom info www . canoeslalombop . co . nz
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