Seventeen talented young people from Albany, Esperance, Mt Barker, Kojonup and Ravensthorpe attended the Gifted Athlete Program (GAP) Camp on April 4 and 5 at Middleton Beach Bowling Club.

The camp was a joint effort of the Department of Sport and Recreation (DSR) and Western Australian Institute of Sport (WAIS), catering for 12 to 14 year olds (introductory) and 15 to 21 (advanced).

Dual Olympian Amber Bradley spoke to the athletes about their experiences in elite sport.

Triple hockey Olympian, Damon Dilletti, gave an insight into his experiences as a junior athlete and his transition into the Australian team.

DSR Talent Development regional coordinator Sam Shields said GAP was all about helping talented young athletes make the most of their natural skills.

“GAP gives these young regional athletes an even greater chance to succeed at the top level,” she said.

“The idea of delivering the program close to the athletes’ home town is to ensure they have an opportunity to stay and develop in the most supportive environment possible before they need to relocate.”

The 12 to 14-year-olds had workshops on nutrition, time management and goal-setting, injury prevention and sports pathways.

Advanced athletes attended an overnight camp with a more in-depth look at sport as well as leadership, self-awareness, planning and drugs in sport.

The athletes were: Advanced: Mitchell Cavanagh (waterskiing) and Brent Clarke (athletics) from Kojonup, Gabrielle Pither (equestrian), Emma Panizza (equestrian), Bianca Pyle (hockey), Kim Porter (equestrian), Robert Partington (tennis), Kate Hill (equestrian) – Albany, Kathryn Slattery (hockey) – Manypeaks, Kate Oorschot (equestrian), Luke Elliot (sailing) – Esperance. Introductory: Taylor Pomery (hockey), Hunter Pomery (hockey), Brett Deadman (swimming), Madison Brady (waterskiing) – Albany, Jacinta Anderson (netball) – Mt Barker, Tyson Thomas (basketball) – Ravensthorpe.