Ollie Morton-Farrelly | Sport

HI I’m Ollie & I’m in Year 12 at Matamata College. I love sport & it literally gets me out of bed everyday. I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis when i was 8yo. It mostly affects my lower joints/tendons but it is an autoimmune disease so it affects my entire body & causes chronic fatigue. For years it wasn’t physically possible for me to do any sport.
I started Athletics when I was 12yo,I had a great coach who helped me throw the shot & discus so it took some pressure off my knees. Over the next few years I won 6 medals at the Colgate Games & then when I was 14yo I was awarded the Nick Willis scholarship for most outstanding athlete at the Games as I won medals in throwing & the 100m. Since then I have been the Waikato & North Island Secondary school champ in both shotput & discus & then in 2019 I won the National title at the NZ secondary school Athletics in Junior Boys Discus.
I started volleyball (against medical advice) in October 2018, I was selected for the Waikato U15 team in December at The NZ Interprovincials (IPC)
where we won the tournament & I made the Star 7 tournament team. I’ve since represented the Waikato in U17s & then again in U15s (for the 2nd time) where we regained our title & I was named in that Tournament team.
Last July I was selected in the N.Z Youth mens volleyball team & we went to Florida to compete at the USA HP champs, it was amazing!
This year I was selected in the NZ Youth mens team to travel to Thailand but it was cancelled due to Covid19.
I had my first Beach volleyball tournament at the N.Z Age group champs representing Waikato in February this year, we got the Silver medal & then we also did well at the NZ secondary school champs. I was selected in the N.Z U17 beach development squad which were going on the Tour of Pacific but this also got cancelled due to covid19, which is disappointing.
I am passionate about keeping active & playing sport at the highest level possible & I hope I can for as long as possible.