| Aaron Barclay | |
| Residence: | Riversdale, New Zealand[1] Gore, New Zealand[2] [3] |
| Birth Date: | 21 October 1992 |
| Height: | 178cm (70inches)[4] |
| Weight: | 620NaN0 |
| Show-Medals: | yes |
Aaron Barclay (born 21 October 1992) is a triathlete who represents New Zealand internationally. He competed at the 2010 Summer Youth Olympics in Singapore and won the first-ever gold medal awarded for the boys' event. Barclay also subsequently won a silver medal in the mixed relay event, competing for a team representing Oceania.[5] The Games were the first time Barclay had competed outside of Oceania.[6]
Barclay's parents are Craig and Christine Barclay.[7] He attended Gore High School. Barclay had been portrayed as being "visually impaired"[2] and "disabled" as he chooses to race without contact lenses, something his coach said the triathlete was able to overcome without problem.[8] However, this was later revealed as being only semi-true. Barclay requires glasses outside of competition, and had jokingly claimed to be half-blind without them on a questionnaire athletes were made to fill out for Infostrada Sports before the Games, which was picked up on and transmitted as being fact.[9]
At his first international triathlon meet in Gold Coast, Australia in 2009, Barclay finished only 31st,[2] [9] but he improved to finish second in the Oceania Youth Olympic qualifiers[6] before winning individual gold at the Youth Olympics. He won a further silver medal in the mixed relay event, teaming up with New Zealand teammate Maddie Dillon and two Australian triathletes to represent Oceania.[10]
Barclay will take part at the 2010 International Triathlon Union Junior World Championships, before making a decision whether or not to turn professional.[8] He considers Hamish Carter, gold medallist at the 2004 Summer Olympics event, one of his heroes. Barclay now currently is coaching the Macleans College Cycling and Triathlon team.[2]