It’s not everyday that a 14 year old athlete gains a major sponsor. But that is exactly what Marist College Eastwood student Robert Tannous has done.
Recently participating in the NSW Juniors State Athletics competition run by Athletics NSW, Robert qualified for Nationals and came second in both the 100m and 200m. This very talented Year 9 student travelled to Adelaide to represent NSW in the 2024 Australian Athletics Championships with major sports footwear company New Balance as his sponsor. Here, Robert made the finals in both 100m and 200m events. Robert was also selected to participate in the Little Athletics NSW team to compete in the Australian Little Athletics National Championships also held in Adelaide and made the finals in 200m and Triple jump.
“This is quite an achievement for such a young person” comments PDHPE Coordinator Nathan Breen. He adds “Robert has been involved in athletics since he was only five years old and is very dedicated to his training.”
Robert trains twice a week and competes in competitions every Friday evening, in addition to doing his own strength and conditioning training. Australian Olympian, Fred Martin coaches Robert. Fred Martin ran at the Los Angeles 1984 Olympic Games, being the youngest Australian Olympic Sprinter, and also the first Australian deaf Olympic runner. Fred also still holds little Athletics records in the U/12 and U/13 400m
So how does this impact his academic performance? College Principal, Ms Rossetti says “Robert is clearly a talented sports person and Robert’s teachers are fully supportive of his athletic endeavours. Given the time he needs to spend away from his studies, Robert has developed good time management skills to make sure he can continue to achieve in both academic and sporting arenas.
Robert is quick to tell you that his older sister is also very serious about sport and boasts proudly of her achievements including her recent qualification to the NSW State of Origin Oztag team and her selection for the Wanderers Wanderwoman Football (soccer) Academy. Both Robert and his sister represent Ryde-Eastwood Colts for NSW Oztag and Sydney Warriors for National Oztag competitions.