Following in the steps of Australian junior world championship rower Daniel Whitehead, the 17-year-old Weeks has earned selection in the NSW team to compete at the Australian Youth Olympic Festival at Penrith Lakes next week.

Weeks will row as a lightweight, competing in the men’s lightweight, double men’s heavyweight and quad men’s heavyweight at the Sydney International Regatta Centre.

He earned selection in the team thanks largely to a second placing in the A final of the men’s single scull event over 2000 metres in the trials at Penrith Lakes.

“I was pretty confident after I came second but when I got the email I was ecstatic,” Weeks said of his inclusion in the NSW Olympic Team.

Coached by Adam Harrison in Kinross’ rowing program, Weeks will row against the six other state and territory teams from across Australia, while also taking on teams from New Zealand, Great Britain and, surprisingly, Vanuatu.

“I didn’t even know Vanuatu had (rowing) boats over there,” he joked.

The Australian Youth Olympic Festival is for athletes ages between 13 and 19.

It’s the perfect stepping stone for higher honours in the sport.

Weeks admits to eyeing off selection in the NSW team at the games for sometime, and he even “trained a little harder working towards” the event.

“Definitely. I hope it means my name is out there now and the selectors know a little bit about me,” Weeks said.

Weeks will take plenty of form into the games, having enjoyed success at the Australian Schoolboys championships where his quad scull crew were crowned champions.

The youth games begins on January 16, with the rowing events beginning on January 19.

Weeks will meet his team mates at a camp tomorrow at Mosman before embarking on a pre-games camp for a week from January 12.