Australian Olympian Patrick Murphy To Serve As 2014 Youth Olympic Games Role Model

BELCONNEN, Australia, April 23. THE swimmers attending this summer’s Youth Olympic Games will get two Olympic medalists as mentors, with today’s announcement that Patrick Murphy will serve as an Athlete Role Model to the teenage athletes in Nanjing, China.

Murphy will be joined by Olympic champion Chad Le Clos, who is set to be a Youth Olympic Games ambassador.

Murphy won two bronze medals in the Beijing Olympics in 2008, swimming in the finals of the 800 free relay and the prelims of the 400 free relay. He was also a part of the 2004 Olympics, competing in the 200 backstroke.

Murphy, now 30 years old, will be one of two announced role models for aquatic sports, joining Chinese diving legend Wu Minxia.

“The Youth Games are a stepping stone to the Olympics,” Murphy said. “Hopefully the athletes have a positive experience which will encourage them to strive for the senior Olympics.”

No one knows that better than Le Clos, who will be an Ambassador at the Youth Olympics this year. Le Clos won the 200 IM at the 2010 Youth Olympics, two years before stunning the world with a gold medal over Michael Phelps in the 200 fly at the London Games.

Full text of Swimming Australia announcement:

Two-time Olympic swimmer Patrick Murphy (AUS) has been appointed an Athlete Role Model (ARM) for the upcoming Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games, joining the impressive line-up of 38 fellow Olympians who will offer support, mentoring and advice to the 3,800 young participating athletes.

“It’s really exciting to be a part of it,” the two time Olympic bronze medallist said.

Murphy made his Olympic debut at just 20-years-old in Athens, competing in the 200m backstroke. A key member of the Australian relay team, Murphy was pivotal in both the 4x-100m and 4x200m freestyle relay events at the Beijing Games; a bronze medallist on both occasions.

In his role as an ARM, Murphy will be encouraging young athletes to enjoy the experience and strive for their best.

“It’s all about participation and having fun along the way,” he said.

“You only get one opportunity. The Youth Games are a stepping stone to the Olympics. Hopefully the athletes have a positive experience which will encourage them to strive for the senior Olympics.”

Representing all 28 sports on the Olympic programme, the ARMs will also take part in workshops and educational activities with the young athletes, covering topics such as anti-doping, nutrition, environmental protection, injury prevention, and irregular and illegal betting, to name a few.

Murphy anticipates being in Nanjing for the first five days of competition of the Youth Olympic Games before he returns to Australia for the Pan Pacific Championships taking place on the Gold Coast.

The second summer Youth Olympic Games take place in Nanjing, China from 16 — 28 August 2014. Olympic Gold Medallist Emma Snowsill has also been appointed as an ARM for the sport of triathlon. Australia anticipates sending a team of 91 athletes, including a women’s touch football team and a men’s hockey team.

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