Our local sports stars
Pictured above, Henry Young.
You don’t have to search hard to find a South Australian sportsperson matching it with the best in the world. We’ve spoken with three local athletes demonstrating their grit, longevity and competitive spirit each time they compete.
Words: Andrew Rasch
A grand master at 100
Henry Young | Tennis International Tennis Federation (ITF) Masters Tour
“I love tennis – it’s helped me live a long life,” says 100-year-old former fighter pilot and Keith farmer Henry Young.
After retiring at 70 from a busy life on the land, Henry used his newfound spare time to renew his love of tennis and he now plays several times a week.
But it’s on the world stage where Henry has made his mark.
He was the first centenarian to compete at the ITF Masters World Individual Championships, when last year he participated in the 90-plus category in Spain. Henry also competed in the singles, doubles and mixed doubles at this year’s ITF Masters Tour in Turkey.
Henry doesn’t usually do any special preparation before a match, but he has a few tricks up his sleeve.
“In doubles, I have a special tactic – I yell ‘yours!’ to my partner,” he laughs.
Henry’s favourite tennis player is Ash Barty, largely for what she’s done for the sport.
“She’s such a lovely person,” he says. “I admire her for giving it up at the top of her game and I hope she’s just as successful as a golfer.”
Henry admits he’ll leave tennis one day but, like Ash Barty, only when he’s at the top.
“I’ve just renewed my passport for 10 years – I’m hopeful,” he says wryly.
When explaining his longevity, Henry says with a customary chuckle that he’s a walking, talking, testament to the medical profession.
“I’ve had both knees and a hip replaced, a pacemaker, two nose reconstructions and I’ve recently had a cochlear implant,” he says.
“Doctors can do so much these days, and I hate to see good players dropping out for medical reasons.”
Henry believes a lack of older players also makes it harder for him.
“I have to play these 89-year-old youngsters because there aren’t as many players in the 90-plus group.”
As for tips on living a long life, Henry advises looking after yourself and your diet.
“Drink milk, eat honey and cereals, and get plenty of exercise and sleep,” he says. “Just grab your racquet and get out there and play tennis. It’s something you can do for a lifetime.”
“I have to play these 89-year-old youngsters because there aren’t as many players in the 90-plus group.”
From life-changing adversity to Paralympian
Grant Allen | Para-cycling 2024 Paralympic Games
From a young age, Grant Allen loved his bike. “It’s me. It’s who I am,” the 43 year old says.
Whether skidding across the ground or soaring over jumps, he and his BMX bike were a daredevil partnership on the family farm in SA’s Mid North.
After high school, Grant moved to Adelaide and swapped BMX for mountain bikes, competing in the Red Bull Rampage on an undulating, dusty track in the Utah desert. While training off-road for a return trip in 2011, Grant crashed his bike and suffered permanent spinal damage. He spent five weeks in rehab and then had to come to terms with a new reality of living with paraplegia.
Now equipped with a custom-made hand cycle, Grant competes as a paracyclist. In 2021, he made his Paralympics debut at the Tokyo Games.
At the renowned 6km Fuji International Speedway, Grant finished sixth in both the H4 men’s road time trial and the H4 six-lap men’s road race.
Although delighted to compete at the Paralympics, Grant has mixed feelings.
“As the thrill of competing wore off, I felt I should’ve finished higher,” he says. “I’m hoping to improve if I make this year’s Paris Games.”
“Be a patient motorist. No road user’s two minutes are more important than another’s.”
To qualify for the 2024 Paralympics team, Grant juggles work and fatherhood to compete in various cycling events including the recent UCI Para-cycling Road World Cup in Adelaide.
“Unless you’re a gold medallist, the other results from previous games don’t carry much weight,” he says. “I have to do well to be considered for this year’s team.”
Grant’s life-changing injury underscores the dangers cyclists face on and off the road. His advice is not to be deterred from riding but to be realistic about where and when you ride.
“Be a patient motorist,” he says. “No road user’s two minutes are more important than another’s.
“If you’re getting into cycling, increase your confidence by riding routes and times that aren’t heavily traffic-affected.”
When it comes to other sports, Grant would rather participate than watch. Turning a negative into a positive is his favourite quote and an ethos he lives by.
Walking her way to Paris
Olivia Sandery | Walking 2024 Olympic Games
Still so young, competitive walker Olivia Sandery has an impressive national and international record and dreams of being an Olympian.
“I don’t want to speak too soon, but I’m hopeful of being selected,” Olivia says.
Having always been a talented athlete, the 21 year old discovered her strengths early on.
“I was better at endurance events, so I focused on race walking,” she says.
It’s proven to be an inspired decision. In 2022, she finished fifth in the under 20 10km walk at the World Race Walking Teams Championship and finished fourth at the World Athletics Under 20 Championships in Colombia – the equal second best place by an Australian at the event.
Since switching from the 10km walk to the 20km walk, Olivia has completed her Olympics qualifying time, ready for the team announcement in July.
She says the hardest part of doubling the race distance was the mental aspect.
“It’s easy to drift away, so I concentrate on someone or something trackside,” she says. “Each time I pass, I mentally check back in to stay focused.”
“No matter your age, get out and give it a go – you never know where it could take you.”
Olympic gold medallist race walker Jared Tallent coaches Olivia and she often trains along the city to Port Adelaide railway line, at Victoria Park, or the SA Athletics Stadium at Mile End.
“I train at least once a day and 15 to 20 hours a week,” she says. “I do two gym sessions a week, plus I’m studying nutrition and dietetics part-time at Flinders University.”
Olivia’s favourite aspect of competing is the roar of a big stadium crowd and the thrill of achieving a strong time.
“It’s hard to describe how good that feels. When I raced in Colombia, it was a great atmosphere. I was so full of adrenaline that it was a bit of a blur.”
Olivia says that although she enjoys a casual stroll with family and friends, it’s hard not to surge ahead.
“I sometimes find it hard to slow down enough for others,” she laughs.
With plenty of local clubs across SA, Olivia suggests giving athletics a try.
“No matter your age, get out and give it a go – you never know where it could take you.”
IMAGES: David Pearce Productions; Darren Mallard; Paralympics Australia; RAA/Thomas Aldahn.
