🇸🇳 Taupo teen Matthew More will represent New Zealand in triathlon at the IV Summer Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal.
The October 31- November 13 event marks a historic milestone as the first IOC-sanctioned Games to be hosted on the African continent.
More, coached by Cameron Paul as part of Tri-Sport Taupo junior programme, is understandably amped about his selection.
“I’m super excited for this opportunity and can’t wait for what’s ahead. I’m ready to give it my all and proudly represent New Zealand,” he said.
“It’ll be awesome to meet and compete against athletes from around the world who share the same passion for sport. I’m so grateful to everyone who’s supported me to get to this point. I can’t wait to make the most of this experience.”
Travis White, Tri NZ’s GM of Performance, said: “We’re extremely proud to have Matthew selected in the New Zealand Team for Dakar 2026. He is a promising young triathlete and has our full backing to go over there and represent both triathlon and the country with pride.”
Tri NZ has a special association with the Youth Olympic Games that reaches back to Buenos Aires 2018 where Dylan McCullough, then just 17, won gold in the men’s individual and silver in the mixed relay.
McCullough has gone on to represent NZ at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games (7th individual and 4th Mixed Relay) and the 2024 Paris Olympics where he finished 19th individually after selflessly helping eventual silver medallist Hayden Wilde back into the gold medal hunt, before Team NZL finished 14 of 15 in the Mixed Relay.
More earned his selection with steady performances last season including victory in every discipline at the Future ChampioNZ run by Tri-sport Taupo, 2nd in the Prince of the Lake Rotorua Multisport Festival, 3rd in the short distance triathlon at Tinman, 9th at the Napier Triathlon Festival (2nd in his qualifying age category) and 48th at the Oceania Junior Championships in Devonport (1st in his qualifying age category).
Dakar 2026 will feature 247 events across 36 sports, with breaking, skateboarding, sport climbing, surfing, and karate added to the core lineup of 28 sports.
