Arthur’s Olympic Games gold bid inspires champs

THE remarkable story behind a young Southside man’s bid to win a gold medal at the Olympic Games has become the focus of a national campaign to inspire Ireland’s next generation of leaders and champions to follow their dream.

Modern pentathlete Arthur Lanigan-O’Keeffe (23) from Ballsbridge is now just one step away from achieving his own childhood dream after becoming a Nissan Generation Next ambassador.

Nissan Generation Next provides Ireland’s next generation of innovators, movers and shakers with a brand new, taxed and insured Nissan to drive for a year to get ahead on their journey to success.

Arthur chose the award winning Nissan Qashqai when he joined the ambassador programme almost a year ago.

He recently created history when he became the first Irishman to win a gold medal at the European Modern Pentathlon Championships, which helped him to secure his place at this summer’s Olympic Games in Rio.

Applications for this year’s Nissan Generation Next ambassador programme are now open and Arthur has become the subject of a short film and the face of a national digital and print media campaign that encourages Ireland’s ambitious achievers to follow in his footsteps.

The short film by Nissan captures the incredible determination and dedication that Arthur invests in his sport, which combines the five diverse disciplines of fencing, swimming, horse-riding, shooting and running.

It provides a fascinating insight into his rigorous training regime which takes over 14 hours almost every day and includes sleeping in an altitude tent that he has set up over his bed to simulate the conditions at 2,150 metres above sea level.

The short film has just been released by Nissan and is being broadcast on its YouTube channel and promoted on a variety of popular social media platforms this month.

Photographs of Arthur in training will also appear as the centerpiece of the inspirational Nissan Generation Next promotional campaign across digital media and the national print media.

“Being part of Nissan Generation Next has given me a huge sense of belief in my own ability,” Arthur said. “I found that I have been able to bring that belief into my training and into my competitions

“Ever since I have been 8-years-old I have wanted to compete at the Olympic Games. Every hour from 6.30am to 9pm at night is spent training, sleeping, visualising and getting myself closer towards achieving my ultimate goal

“It is challenging and it is demanding. If you want to do what I do making sacrifices is part of everyday life. If I get bad days I visualise what it feels like to stand on the top step of the podium and refocus,” he added.

Anyone who is working hard to achieve their goals and ambitions can apply to become a Nissan Generation Next ambassador and win a brand new, taxed and insured Nissan for a year. 

“We are looking for people like Arthur who are confident, focused and passionate about what they do in life and who could use a brand new, taxed and insured Nissan to help them achieve their goals,” explained James McCarthy, CEO of Nissan Ireland.

“Nissan Generation Next ambassadors exemplify what it takes to make it on the national and world stage. They forge ahead with tenacity and determination and their ability to focus on what they want to achieve and to overcome the obstacles and challenges that they encounter is truly inspirational.”

Applicants for the 2016 Nissan Generation Next programme can apply online at www.nissangenerationnext.ie The closing date for applications is Tuesday, May 10, 2016. A shortlist of 20 candidates from those who apply nationwide will go forward to a four-week public voting phase. The seven individuals generating the largest number of votes will win a place on the Nissan Generation Next ambassador programme.