High performance fund gets gold medallist's support

A new fund for high performing athletes and clubs at The University of Auckland has got the approval of one of New Zealand's most accomplished athletes.

The Mahé Drysdale Sports Support Fund is available to high performance athletes who have been selected to represent New Zealand, at national or at universities level, and is need of financial support for travel, accommodation and other costs that come with competing at international events.

It is named after Drysdale not only for his achievements in the single sculls at both the world championships and the Olympic Games, but also because he is a graduate of the University, having graduated with a Graduate Diploma in Commerce in 2001 and a Bachelor of Commerce in 1999.

Welcoming the recognition, Mahé explained "my rowing career started at the University and I think it is a great initiative so I was happy to lend my name to it.

"The fund will be a great success if it can help an athlete or team go to the next level in their sport and give them the experience they need to achieve their dreams. It's a challenge I faced early on in my career, just finding support to keep me going at that high level so hopefully this contributes to keeping athletes and teams on track."

The fund is also available to clubs and teams affiliated with the University who are attending, or plan to host, inter-tertiary sports tournaments.

University of Auckland Director for Sport and Recreation Louis Rattray is glad to have the Olympic gold medallist's support for the fund, adding "it's great to have our first sport oriented fund for high performance athletes named after one of the world's best rowers. He is a role model for our students not just for what he has achieved but the focus it took to get there.

"Our hope is that this fund provides as much administrative support as we can provide that will allow our high performing teams and athletes to focus on sports goals and academic achievements."

For more information go to www.recreation.auckland.ac.nz/uoa/home/sport-and-recreation/mahe-drysdale-sports-support-fund

Image courtesy of Athletics Auckland.