Aaron Barclay
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| Born | 21 October 1992 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 178 cm (5 ft 10 in)[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 62 kg (137 lb)[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Country | New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Aaron Barclay (born 21 October 1992) is a triathlete who represents New Zealand internationally. He competed at the 2010 Summer Youth Olympics in Singapore and won the first-ever gold medal awarded for the boys' event. Barclay also subsequently won a silver medal in the mixed relay event, competing for a team representing Oceania.[5] The Games were the first time Barclay had competed outside of Oceania.[6]
Biography and sporting record
Barclay's parents are Craig and Christine Barclay.[7] He attended Gore High School.[7] Barclay had been portrayed as being "visually impaired"[3] and "disabled"[8] as he chooses to race without contact lenses, something his coach said the triathlete was able to overcome without problem.[9] However, this was later revealed as being only semi-true. Barclay requires glasses outside of competition, and had jokingly claimed to be half-blind without them on a questionnaire athletes were made to fill out for Infostrada Sports before the Games, which was picked up on and transmitted as being fact.[8]
At his first international triathlon meet in Gold Coast, Australia in 2009, Barclay finished only 31st,[3][8] but he improved to finish second in the Oceania Youth Olympic qualifiers[6] before winning individual gold at the Youth Olympics. He won a further silver medal in the mixed relay event, teaming up with New Zealand teammate Maddie Dillon and two Australian triathletes to represent Oceania.[10]
Barclay will take part at the 2010 International Triathlon Union Junior World Championships, before making a decision whether or not to turn professional.[9] He considers Hamish Carter, gold medallist at the 2004 Summer Olympics event, one of his heroes. Barclay now currently is coaching the Macleans College Cycling and Triathlon team.[3]
References
- ^ a b International Triathlon Union. "Aaron Barclay". Retrieved 3 October 2010.
- ^ Logan Savory (2010-08-24). "Barclay creates GHS buzz". The Southland Times. Retrieved 27 August 2010.
- ^ a b c d "New Zealander Barclay stuns triathlon world". Youth Olympic News Service. 2010-08-16. Archived from the original on 20 August 2010. Retrieved 27 August 2010.
- ^ John Whiting (2010-08-16). "Triathlete Barclay basking in golden glow". Television New Zealand. Archived from the original on 20 August 2010. Retrieved 27 August 2010.
- ^ Sydney Morning Herald (2010-08-19). "Australia, NZ merge for Youth Oly medal". The Sydney Morning Herald. Australian Associated Press. Archived from the original on 24 August 2010. Retrieved 27 August 2010.
- ^ a b Sim, Royston (2010-08-16). "Aaron of NZ wins triathlon". The Straits Times. Archived from the original on 25 August 2010. Retrieved 27 August 2010.
- ^ a b Egan, Brendon (17 August 2010). "Southland triathlete wins at Youth Games". The Southland Times. Retrieved 26 September 2014.
- ^ a b c Mark Hawthorne (2010-08-24). "'Visually impaired' triathlete sees funny side of 'brave' win". The Age. Melbourne. Archived from the original on 26 August 2010. Retrieved 27 August 2010.
- ^ a b Nathan Burdon (2008-08-18). "Gold forged in Southland". The Southland Times. Retrieved 27 August 2010.
- ^ Nathan Burdon (2008-08-20). "Southland triathlete collects another Youth Games medal". The Southland Times. Retrieved 27 August 2010.