Athletes

Oli CHignell

Achievements: 6x National Champion, 5000m NZ Champion, 9th Gold Coast Marathon

Born in Nelson and raised in Dunedin, Oli is a dedicated distance runner, specialising in athletics, cross-country, and road racing. He’s driven by a deep love for competition and the relentless pursuit of becoming the best athlete he can be.

For Oli, it’s about pride in performance and representing his family on the biggest stages.

Goals: Commonwealth Games Qualification – leave no stone unturned.

@olichignell

Daniel Torr

Achievements: Black Sticks A-team Rep, Hunior Black Sticks Rep, Dunedin Hockey Rep

Born and raised in Dunedin, 21-year-old Daniel has spent the last decade making his mark on the hockey field.

From representing Otago across all age groups to wearing the silver fern for the Junior Blacksticks, his journey has taken him to international tournaments like the Sultan of Johor Cup and the Junior World Cup.

Goals: hitting new PBs in speed and strength, and earning selection for the Premier Hockey League.

@_dan.torr

Seb Ferro

Achievements: 4 x 100m Champion, Oceania Games NZ Rep, 10.79 100m PB

Seb is a 19-year-old explosive speed demon. Specialising in the 100m and 200m sprints, he’s already set impressive personal bests of 10.79 (100m) and 22.30 (200m).

Goals: Keep pushing the limits, break more records, and continue representing Otago at the highest levels.

@seb_ferro1

Rebekah AItkenhead

Achievements: New Zealand Mile Record Holder, 8x National Champion, New Zealand Representative

Dunedin-born and bred, Becky has been running competitively for over 15 years, with a focus on the 1500m.

Now a new mum, she’s looking forward to setting fresh goals and exploring new distances as she returns to form.

Instagram: @rebekahgreene

Briar Burtenshaw

Achievements: Top Qualifier for Crusader Series

Briar is a born and bred Dunedin girl who dipped her toes into CrossFit at 14 and fell in love. She was initially very drawn to the heavy weights and got stuck into Olympic weightlifting in high school, achieving a gold medal at NZ nationals in 2019.

Now her training is much more hybrid-focused, which allows her to balance work/life and training. 2025 is the year she has decided to get back into the competition space with CrossFit, along with running her first race back in November.

Goal: 2026 Hyrox

Millar McElrea

Achievements: NCAA Athlete

Hailing from Milton, South Otago, Millar competes in NCAA Track and Field.

Millar specialises in sprints from 100m to 400m, focusing on explosive power and speed in the gym.

Driven by a relentless pursuit of growth, he aims to push his physical and mental limits, inspiring others through discipline and resilience.

Goals: Qualify for NCAA nationals, earn All-American honours (top 8), and break school records.

Ella Rowe

Achievements: Torian Pro Finalist, Weightlifting Secondary School Champion

Ella is a high school athlete from Dunedin, NZ, who trains and competes in CrossFit and Olympic weightlifting while playing football during the winter season. She’s driven by a passion for strength, skill progression, and the supportive community she’s found in the gym.

Goals: Compete at Senior Nationals in weightlifting this November

Lauren Paterson

Achievements: Dunedin Region Football Champ with Dunedin City Royals, Southern Football Rep

Lauren has played football since age four and has always thrived in a team sport environment. This year, her goals include performing strongly with her team in the Kate Sheppard Cup and maintaining consistent individual performances through the South Island league and into the National League over summer.

Goals: Consistent performances in the South Island league and the National League

Emma Baird

Achievements: NZ Speed Skating Rep, Dunedin Football Rep, 7s Rugby Rep

Born in South Africa and raised in New Zealand, Emma has spent over a decade in competitive sport, from representing NZ in inline speed skating at the Oceania Championships to playing football at national tournaments. Recently, she switched to rugby, competing for the Seafarers 7s and Otago University Rugby Club.

Goals: Build on her first rugby season and keep learning, and find balance between training, work, uni, and life.

Michaela Jones

Achievements: Southern Blast Player

Mickey is a dedicated netball player who has fought her way back from major injuries to earn a spot on the Southern Blast NNL team this season. Her motivation comes from her family, support system, and the determination to honour her past, present, and future self.

As she steps back onto the court, Mickey is focused on staying strong and resilient, putting in the work off the court with the team at Compound to ensure she thrives when it matters most.

Goal: Stay healthy, keep progressing, and make the most of every moment back on the court.

Savannah Blewden

Achievements: NZ top rising gym influencers, 50k+ following on social media

Originally from Auckland, 18-year-old Savannah has recently moved to Dunedin to study finance and environmental management at Otago University. Passionate about fitness, weightlifting, and living an active lifestyle, she uses her social media platforms to inspire, motivate, and add a bit of fun to her followers' days.

Goals: Get into running, Hyrox, and athletic training