The road to Gangwon

The Gangwon Youth Olympic Games brought together young athletes from around the world to compete and grow. We had the privilege of interviewing Alessandra Sydun-West, who represented Australia in biathlon. Alessandra shared her experience, challenges, and the invaluable lessons she learned during this remarkable journey.

Firstly, congratulations on your selection for the 2024 Winter Youth Olympic Games, it is a tremendous effort and achievement.

Alessandra: Thank you so much, I really appreciate it.

For our readers who might not be fully aware, what is biathlon and what about the sport appealed to you and made you want to compete at a professional level?

Alessandra: Biathlon is a combination of cross-country skiing and shooting at 50 m metal targets. It is a gruelling sport that demands intense physical exertion and then the ability to calm your heart to be able to shoot and hit 5 targets. If you miss a shot, you incur a time penalty or you have to ski a penalty loop. The challenge of this sport really intrigued me as I love to push myself to the limits. I love the combination of skiing and then being able to shoot during a race. Sprint races consist of three loops and two shoots, and an individual race is five loops and four shoots. The longest distance I have competed in so far is 12.5 km. After trying out biathlon for the first time I fell in love and once I started training harder, I realised I wanted to pursue this sport at an elite level.

What does your training regime look like?

Alessandra: My training regime is quite intense as I average about 15-20 hours of training a week. During the summer I spend a lot of time in the gym, running, going on the bike, shooting, and roller-skiing. During the winter I can cross-country ski and shoot in the same session and go to the gym for conditioning.

How has your family’s membership at Parrawa helped with any competitions or training?

Alessandra: My family membership at Parrawa has given me an amazing opportunity to stay on snow and have access to the cross-country tracks all season. Without this, the travel from

Jindabyne would be extremely difficult. Parrawa has also given me an amazing environment full of such lovely members which makes my long training days really enjoyable.

What were you most excited about or looking forward to about Gangwon?

Alessandra: I was most looking forward to meeting athletes from across the world and being able to compete on such a large stage for Australia.

What advice would you give to our younger Parrawa members who will be looking up to you and might wish to take up biathlon themselves?

Alessandra: I would say to believe in yourself and to follow your passions no matter what anyone says. It can be really challenging but it is always worth it in the end. I would also say to build a really strong community to support you through your challenges so you can reach your goals.

# # # #

Alessandra’s journey to the Gangwon Youth Olympics is a testament to her dedication, hard work, and passion for biathlon. Her story is an inspiration to young athletes everywhere, showing that with determination and support, achieving one’s dreams is possible.

We are proud to have her as a member of the Parrawa community and as a testament to how our Club continues to promote sport and develop athletes of all levels.