By JARROD POTTER
UNBRIDLED freedom has given up-and-coming athlete Sifan Badada a chance to run for his dreams.
Fourteen-year-old Badada, from Noble Park, emigrated from Ethiopia a couple of years ago to join his father and has loved every moment since he touched down.
With the ability to do whatever he wants in Australia – unchecked by extreme poverty or political censorship that ravage his birthplace – Badada decided to strap on the cleats and give athletics his undivided attention.
After Badada and his father moved to Noble Park, the pair was out running when spotted by athletics coach Corey Pendry… and the rest as they say is history.
This time however it’s history in the making as Badada continues to push up the athletics rankings in Victoria with high-level success on the horizon.
The Springvale Little Athletics Centre dynamo has won regional medals in triple jump, the 800 metres and 400 metres and finished seventh at the state championships and is rapidly improving.
His athletics career has only just started to blossom, but Badada has already been recognised by the council as the Greater Dandenong Male Sports’ Athlete of the Year at the inaugural Sports Awards earlier this year.
“It’s great, very awesome,” Badada said.
“I was choking, I couldn’t believe it (winning the Sports Athlete award).
“I’ve just got freedom (in Australia) – political, everything – and I would love to run for Australia internationally.”
Badada’s coach Corey Pendry said his work ethic and discipline make him a joy to coach and there’s no limit to his athletic potential.
“It was quite a surprise – he was just running around with his father and I had my training squad down here with about 10 kids and I said to just join in, the kids just fell in love with him as he came every single day to training… so it was good,” Pendry said.
“I reckon he could be one of Australia’s best – he’s in the making and he wants to learn and has inspirations to go to the Olympics, still complete VCE and go to Haileybury.
“He’s been a great contributor to my squad and it’s just fantastic to see him grow and develop as an athlete but also as a student – he runs with his heart and when he studies he just does everything with 100 per cent and nothing less.”
Badada wanted to thank his coach Pendry, Springvale Little Athletics Centre and Haileybury Athletics Club for their ongoing commitment to him.
