Sibling Success on the water
Posted on February 04, 2019
Former students, Justina Kitchen, nee Sellers (Upham House 2003 – 2007) and brother Brett (Kupe & Upham House 1999 – 2003) are continuing the family tradition of excelling in their respective water sports.
For Justina, a highly competent windsurfer and kite boarder, the long term target is the 2024 Paris Olympics which is including kiteboarding in its programme. Her earlier efforts at Olympic glory were frustrated by changes to the list of eligible sports for the previous two games.
She is now rapidly rising up the world rankings in kiteboarding and will be taking part in the 2019 World Championship at Lake Garda, in Italy*.
Meanwhile her brother Brett competed in the Tornado world championships held at Takapuna in early January 2019. He was sailing with his father Rex Sellers, a two time Olympic medallist who won gold in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics and silver in the 1988 Seoul Olympics for the same event with Chris Timms. The father and son team have already claimed the New Zealand national title and finished fourth in the fleet of 23 for the world championship at Takapuna. Their partnership is likely to continue as they have been offered a boat for the 2020 World Championships.
*In May 2019 Justina placed 10th in the Women's event and 8th in the Team event at the World Kiteboarding Championships in Italy.
