Simon Dmitrenko

Kia ora,

I'm Simon, a 17-year-old from Hamilton and my main goal is to become a professional rowing athlete. I aim to live this life so it is not in vain, to find my destiny, become a professional, and become the moral and financial core of my future family, as my parents do now. But I would like to become something more significant, to expand my creative ideas and worldwide experiences in order to make this world even better. In the future instead of hearing about Elon Musk I would like to hear about other talented kiwis and their great innovative ideas from New Zealand!

My teachers, coaches and people around me say I have abilities in psychology, and potential to be a good coach in the future. I work as a volunteer staff coach to train young athletes and to be proud of their successes.  But to teach others, I need to prove my competence and become a professional, to succeed in my sport first. The first step of the pathway is to win the up and coming Secondary School Maadi Cup Championship in 2022 first.

In conclusion, my strategic goal is to be selected to represent New Zealand at rowing. As a minimum, I want to win in the single sculls and eights at the Olympic Games.  I also strive to make a 2km world indoor rowing record making New Zealand the birthplace of the new world record. 

"And how do you like this, Elon Musk?"

Summer 2021-2022 Update:

Thank you, Hyundai Pinnacle Program, for the Spirit of Adventure Voyage, where I met so many new friends. I had got an unbelievable experience of how people behave in extreme conditions. I had obtained a feeling of team, understanding teamwork, controlling the vast ship, and a sense of responsibility for other people's lives. It was something special.

I was pleased to meet so many people taking their job professionally so much that I had inspired me to come to the sailor as well. Pinnacle is a fantastic program that allows young people like me to obtain exceptional experiences beyond everyday life to understand myself better, the people around me, and the world we live in. Huge thanks to Hyundai New Zealand Team.