Speaking to students across the city last week, Olympian Suzanne Balogh told them not only can anyone get to the world's highest stage but Orange can help them succeed at the top.
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Mrs Balogh told students at James Sheahan Catholic High School on Friday that Orange - particularly the Ex-Services Golf Club - helped her adapt to conditions the best in the world couldn't match.
During the 2004 trap shooting event, with winds strong enough to cancel athletics events across the city due to hurdles being unable to stand up in the breeze, Mrs Balogh used it to her strength.
It's lovely to be embraced by the community again.
- Suzanne Balogh
"I would have been one of the only ones there who was an avid golfer, and I used something I learned at the Ex-Services Golf Club here ... watch the grass," she said.
She did.
And boy did it pay off.
She shot 66 out of 75 clay targets in the qualifying rounds, and while normally that figure isn't enough to qualify for the gold medal play-off, in those conditions not only did she make it, she was leading - and despite the cameras, the crowd and the pressure, she shot gold.
She spoke to students at Orange Christian School, Canobolas Rural Technology School and James Sheahan during the week, telling the tale of her gold medal but focusing more on following her passion as part of a series of talks to high schools by the Australian Olympic Committee.
"It's lovely to be embraced by the community again," she said.
"I love this program from the AOC has because it is definitely giving back, it's not just saying 'hey come watch the olympics'.
"It's about going out to kids and helping them find their path in life, be it in politics or art or sport or accounting or carpentry or whatever it is, it's just putting the idea of it in their heads. If they have a dream or something you love do it."
She said it was wonderful to be back talking to students in Orange, and was swamped by students wanting selfies, leaflets with more information or just wanting a chat.
"The kids are Orange have been fantastic, these Sheahan kids are just loving it and all the schools have been wonderful," Mrs Balogh said.
And are there more future Olympians hiding in Orange?
"Absolutely, of course they are," she said.
"Orange is a great community embracing sport."
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Max Stainkamph
Max joined the CWD in September 2017, leaving the big smoke of Melbourne to come to Orange, where he stayed until 2020.
Max joined the CWD in September 2017, leaving the big smoke of Melbourne to come to Orange, where he stayed until 2020.
