Leroy Reid can be described as many things, an athlete, a student, a friend but also a proud Indigenous man. Reid’s Indigenous heritage comes through his father, and together they are from the Gadigal and Awabakal People. As a proud Indigenous man he can be seen at training wearing singlets designed by local Indigenous artists or participating in smoking ceremonies at his high school.

Growing up in the Newcastle Region Reid joined Little Athletics at the age of six, and spent the majority of his little athletics career as a member of the Macquarie Hunter centre. At 14, he made state finals and decided to step up his commitment to athletics joining current coach Gerrard Keating. Since this partnership, Leroy has had success in both the sprints and jumps. At the Little Athletics NSW State Championships in 2018 he won silver medals in the 100m & 200m sprints. Reid has also represented his state most recently at the 2019 Australian All Schools Championships winning a gold medal in the Swedish medley relay, and two silver medals in the 200m and 4x100m relay.

Earlier this year, along with 24 other Indigenous athletes, Reid travelled to Melbourne for the Raise the Bar program jointly delivered by Athletics Australia and the University of Melbourne. The program aims to inspire young Indigenous athletes to not only achieve their goals in track and field but also aspire to further their education.

Off the track, Leroy is hoping to study medicine at the University of Newcastle. The university offers a pathway for Indigenous students called the Miroma Bunbilla program in which they undertake a week-long course of problem-based learning. The University of Newcastle joint medicine program aims to make medicine more accessible to Indigenous students, guaranteeing 17 places every year, and producing over half of Australia’s Indigenous doctors.

When thinking of his future in Athletics, the 2021 World U20 Championships in Kenya is a goal he has committed to training for. “I would love to be selected in the 4x100m relay; however, the 200m would just be the icing on the cake.” Leroy’s hard work in athletics has been recognised as being part of the 2020/21 Athletics NSW Target Talent Program in which he trains with some of the top junior sprinters in NSW under the guidance of Rohan Browning’s coach Andrew Murphy.

As a role model for young indigenous Little Athletes, Leroy had advice “It’s really important to have your support groups, your friends, family and mates, just make sure you don’t take anything too seriously and enjoy what you do.”