Harrington Park teenager Jaide Gayle-Weiling is ramping up her intensity as prepares to take on the very best at the Oceania Speed Skating Championships in April.
This year the championships will be held at Nundah, Queensland and recent form suggests Jaide will further enhance her performance resume on this trip.
Representing NSW at the recent national titles in Adelaide, Jaide won gold and three bronze medals. Two of these bronze medals were won in very close photo finishes with first and second, while racing in the highly competitive Open category.
Moving out of the junior ranks can be intimidating but Jaide was up to the challenge.
But while things are looking good for Jaide right now, it hasn’t all been plain sailing for her since taking up speed skating.
In May 2014 Jaide had major spinal surgery. This operation involved two, fifty centimetre Titanium rods being attached to her spine.
The operation was performed to correct the symptoms of a rare condition called, Sudden Onset Idiopathic Scoliosis.
More recently Jaide had an accident involving her coach during training.
Jaide’s confidence was shaken and she also suffered abrasions and bruises that required a trip to hospital.
Her coach definitely came off second best and required surgery to repair several fractures in his arm.
But happily, both returned to the training track as late as last week.
Jaide is part of the South West Sydney Academy of Sport (SWSAS) “Lone Star’’ program which offers support and education to talent identified athletes who participate in individual sports, or sports where no other support network exists.
SWSAS sports program manager James Watson says of Jaide’s dedication:
“I was fortunate enough to be involved with Jaide’s scholarship enrolment from day one; she has actively pursued every opportunity that the academy has offered her.
“Jaide is the consummate athlete. She and her mother Amanda have been to every education session and I continue to receive regular updates regarding her skating progress.
“We have had several meetings to discuss; getting ‘race ready’ – Jade has a hunger for knowledge.
[social_quote duplicate=”no” align=”default”]“Passion, courage, dedication and hunger – Jaide has it all.[/social_quote]
“Her mum is her greatest supporter and Jaide’s future is very bright,” says James Watson.
While speed skating is very exciting to watch it is physically demanding on the athlete.
There are three distinct speed skating disciplines; track racing is on an oval flat track; road racing uses varied surfaces with a minimum 240m circuit, 5 metres wide and averaging 400m and 500m in length.
And banked track racing is usually reserved for international events, with races usually being held on a 200m oval track, which is slightly banked at either end.
“Jaide is competitive across the whole spectrum of events,’’ says James Watson.
“She races every distance from the 100m sprints up to the 5,000m endurance events and as she gains more maturity and strength, she will need to specify a race distance category.
“Jaide is a racer through and through and she likes the centre dais most,’’ he said.
“Her preferred distance and ultimate sporting destination will be determined by her results.”
For more information visit the Academy online here or telephone 4627 7622
