Olympian school alumni Stacey McManus, Craig Stevens, Carl Wilson and Australian Youth Olympic Team member Tay-Leiha Clark joined the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) to formally recognise Endeavour Sports High School as an Australian Olympic Pathway School on 31 May.
The Australian Olympic Pathway School designation looks to boost opportunities for students to excel in both their sporting and academic careers with a key focus on creating the next generation of Australian Olympians.
The school has a rich Olympic history, having produced five Olympic athletes, Kaarle McCulloch (Cycling), Sophie Hunt (Speed Skating), Carl Wilson (Swimming), Stacey McManus (Softball), and Craig Stevens (Swimming), and one Youth Olympian, Tay-Leiha Clark (Athletics).
Tokyo 2020 Olympian and school alumni Stacey McManus said the designation will allow student athletes to become more aware of their pathway to the Olympic Games.
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"Knowing that you can come to this school and there is a pathway program in place toward the Olympic Games is really inspiring and will help Australian Olympians in the future," Stacey said.
While 1988 Olympic Swimmer Carl Wilson, who stepped back onto the school grounds for the first time in 38 years for the special assembly, said having the Olympic Rings associated with the school will act as a source of inspiration for students.
Find out more about Australian Olympic Pathway Schools here.
"It's fantastic to see Endeavour become an Australian Olympic Pathway School, it has always been known as a sporting school and this is just the icing on the cake."
"It's a source of motivation for the students to see the Olympic Rings each day at their school, it will give the students the opportunity to just dream and if you can dream, you can do," Carl said.
The sports pathway programs in place at Endeavour Sports High School along with the support this partnership with the AOC provides, will set students up for success and greatly assist those striving to compete at Brisbane 2032 and beyond.
When asked what advice he'd give student athletes aspiring to the Olympic Games, dual Olympian Craig Stevens said they need to take up every opportunity and learn from those around them.
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"I think it's all about learning, school is a great time to do your best in the classroom as well as learn what you need to do outside of the classroom to achieve on the sporting field. Learn how to set goals, how to achieve those goals and learn from as many people as they can," Craig said.
"Ask questions to their coaches, talk to other athletes, look at the people around them at training and importantly look at the people above them, see what they're doing differently to make themselves better and incorporate that into their own training."
AOC Chief of Community Engagement, James Edwards, said the AOC is honoured to partner with Endeavour Sports High School and looks forward to a long-term partnership with the school.
"With the signs now up on the walls, the students can see and understand they are part of a unique partnership, and they have the support from AOC, NSWIS, the NSW Office of Sport and all the sports that contribute to the pathway programs here at the school," Mr Edwards said.
"So today is about demonstrating that support, but also showcasing the opportunities going forward."
James Kozlowski, Principal of Endeavour Sports High School, said the designation from the AOC is a testament to the hard work by the entire school community.
"Our school has had a lot of success in recent years, but to get this designation from such a prestigious organisation such as the AOC - I could not be prouder," James Kozlowski said.
"It is an important reward for all the hard work my staff and students have put in, and it is something we can all be proud of."
Special guests in attendance on the day included Murat Dizdar, Acting Secretary of the NSW Department of Education, Karen Jones, Chief Executive NSW Office of Sport, Roger Davis, President NSW Sports High School Association, and CEOs from Gymnastics NSW, Baseball NSW, Sydney FC, and Athletics NSW.