Aaron Barclay
Personal information
Born (1992-10-21) 21 October 1992
Height178 cm (5 ft 10 in)[1]
Weight62 kg (137 lb)[1]
Sport
CountryNew Zealand
Medal record
Men's triathlon
Youth Olympic Games
Representing  New Zealand
Gold medal – first place2010 Singapore Individual
Representing a
Mixed-NOCs team
Silver medal – second place2010 Singapore Mixed relay

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.[2] The Games were the first time Barclay had competed outside of Oceania.[3]

Biography and sporting record

Barclay's parents are Craig and Christine Barclay.[4] He attended Gore High School.[4] Barclay had been portrayed as being "visually impaired"[5] and "disabled"[6] as he chooses to race without contact lenses, something his coach said the triathlete was able to overcome without problem.[7] 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.[6]

At his first international triathlon meet in Gold Coast, Australia in 2009, Barclay finished only 31st,[5][6] but he improved to finish second in the Oceania Youth Olympic qualifiers[3] 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.[8]

Barclay will take part at the 2010 International Triathlon Union Junior World Championships, before making a decision whether or not to turn professional.[7] 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.[5]

References

  1. 1 2 International Triathlon Union. "Aaron Barclay". Retrieved 3 October 2010.
  2. ↑ 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.
  3. 1 2 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.
  4. 1 2 Egan, Brendon (17 August 2010). "Southland triathlete wins at Youth Games". The Southland Times. Retrieved 26 September 2014.
  5. 1 2 3
  6. 1 2 3 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.
  7. 1 2 Nathan Burdon (2008-08-18). "Gold forged in Southland". The Southland Times. Retrieved 27 August 2010.
  8. ↑ Nathan Burdon (2008-08-20). "Southland triathlete collects another Youth Games medal". The Southland Times. Retrieved 27 August 2010.
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