Australia’s next generation of sporting talent will get the chance to represent their country and take on the worlds’ best young athletes at the first ever  Youth Olympic Games (YOG) taking place in Singapore from 14 to 16 August.

Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) athletes Damien Hooper (boxing) and Jessica Fox (canoe slalom) are both excited to be named in the Australian team in preparation for the YOG. 

15-year-old Fox will be competing in the women’s K1 canoe slalom event at the YOG. 

‘It's a great honour to be representing Australia for the first time at the Youth Olympic Games,’ Fox said.  

‘The canoeing event at the Games is a completely new event and format to what I am use to racing so I don't know what to expect but I will do my best and see where that places me’.

Fox has already enjoyed great success in the slalom discipline, winning gold at the 2009 Australian Youth Olympic Games as well as claiming gold in women’s senior C1 slalom event at the 2010 Oceania championship.

Fox was introduced to the sport at just 11 years of age by her parents Richard and Myriam. Richard Fox competed for Great Britain in canoe slalom  at the 1992 Olympic Games, while Myriam Fox represented France at the 1992 Barcelona and 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games, winning bronze in Atlanta in the K1 canoe slalom event.

AIS team mate Damien Hooper is also thrilled to be competing for Australia at the Games.

‘It’s exciting to be representing Australia at the Youth Olympic Games. I am hoping to perform well and do Australia proud competing in the 75kg division.’ 

18-year-old Hooper is a graduate of the Australian Sports Commission’s National Talent Identification and Development program.

Since joining the AIS  program in 2008, Hooper has become one of Australia’s best young talented boxers.

He recently claimed silver at the 2010 Youth World Championships in the 75kg division.

Hooper paid tribute to his AIS/NTID coach Don Abnett in supporting his training and development in boxing since 2008.

‘Coach Don has been brilliant in supporting my training and development and coaching me to the next level,’ Hooper said.

‘Since joining the NTID and AIS programs I have gained valuable experience competing at the international level,’ Hooper said.

Hooper was introduced to boxing while growing up in Dalby in country Queensland, and now has his sights set on on qualifying for this year’s  Delhi Commonwealth Games.

Hooper and Brett Mather are the only boxers selected to compete for Australia at the YOG.