Former world BMX champion and TWoA kaiako Lynette Ngaheu and tauira Stevie-Lee Hiroki

Former world champion BMX cyclist Lynette Ngaheu once dreamed of racing for New Zealand at the Olympics.

But when a severe leg injury shattered her dream she sought another.

“My main goal was to get to the Olympics. It’s now my goal to get people where they want to be.”

Kawerau-based Lynette is finding success getting graduates from the level 4 Certificate in Sports Leadership (Applied) to where they want to be. 

Eleven of her recent tauira have secured employment in the Health and Fitness industry, and two others have gone on to further training. 

The jobs range from being gym instructors in large gyms likes Les Mills in Auckland and Hamilton to working in community health organisations.

When asked what is the secret to her success, Lynette says setting goals for tauira is important as well as putting in extra training sessions after TWoA hours to complete the Level 4 certificate programme.

“My students have the goods, and they can do what people graduating with bachelor's degrees can do. I think it’s the extra time that we put in; we don’t just work during the day; we do a lot of afternoon training to get them where they need to be.”

Stevie-Lee Hiroki, who graduated from the 36-week Sports Leadership programme is now working as a community health worker educating people about rheumatic fever and credits Lynette for her achievement.

“Lynette is amazing, who doesn’t love Lynette in our class, she’s always supportive and helps you achieve what you want, too.”

The Certificate in Sports Leadership course, which has no fees, is taught in 13 locations around New Zealand.