The Central Coast Academy of Sport (CCAS) is incredibly proud of recent performances on the world stage of a number of former CCAS athletes.
Jai Opetaia was a former CCAS athlete in the Future Stars Program back in 2012-13 and his drive and commitment was noticeable at an early age. Opetaia recently won the IBF World Cruiserweight division in a brutal fight against Mairis Briedis at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre. The outcome of that fight is Opetaia is now a world champion, nursing a broken jaw but relishing in the knowledge of his outstanding performance to reach the summit in his sport.
Molly Picklum and Macy Callaghan are two incredible surfers making strong advances on the world surfing stage, recently Picklum secured a win in the Challenger Series over Callaghan in a thrilling finish to the Ballito Pro in South Africa. The Ballito Pro is the third stop in the 2022 World Surf League Challenger Series and this win and runner up positions places both ladies well as the series heads to the US mainland at Huntington Beach California late July.
Dimi Papadatos is another CCAS alumni having been in the inaugural 2004 golf program and is now preparing to compete at the British Open at St Andrews Golf Course. Papadotos qualified for the 150th Open at the home of golf with his win in the Victorian Open in February, that win secured his fifth professional golfing title but more importantly an automatic start to compete on the world stage at The Open.
Ian Robilliard OAM, the CCAS Managing Director, said of these recent performances: “This week has seen some amazing results by former athletes from the Central Coast Academy of Sport, it makes you realise the importance of our work, the learnings from a young age remain critical in assisting athletes advance their skills in a performance setting. Recently the Regional Academies set a program in motion titled ‘Bound for Brisbane’, this program is all about unearthing the next generation of Olympic athletes and the results and performance of Jai, Molly, Macy and Dimi is evidence this strategy will work. The Central Coast Academy has runs on the board in this space, maybe come Monday Dimi will be holding the ‘claret jug’ one of the most prized possessions in world golf, our fingers are crossed for him”.
Academy Media information: (CCAS Media) 4349 7756
The Central Coast Academy of Sport would like to thank and acknowledge the support from the following Platinum Business Partners: NSW Government, Mingara Recreation Club, Central Coast Council, Greater Bank, The University of Newcastle, Southern Cross Austereo (HIT 101.3 and Triple M 107.7), Coast Sport, NBN Television, Oddball Marketing, Underwriting Agencies Australia (UAA) and Steadfast
