Aaron Barclay
{{Short description|New Zealand triathlete}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox sportsperson
| name = Aaron Barclay
| country = New Zealand
| residence = Riversdale, New Zealand{{cite news|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/sport/4052090/Barclay-creates-GHS-buzz|title=Barclay creates GHS buzz|author=Logan Savory|newspaper=The Southland Times|date=2010-08-24|accessdate=27 August 2010}}
Gore, New Zealand{{cite news|url=http://news.asiaone.com/News/Latest%2BNews/Sports/Story/A1Story20100816-232362.html |agency=Youth Olympic News Service |title=New Zealander Barclay stuns triathlon world |date=2010-08-16 |accessdate=27 August 2010 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100820042224/http://news.asiaone.com/News/Latest%2BNews/Sports/Story/A1Story20100816-232362.html |archivedate=20 August 2010 |url-status=dead }}{{cite news|url=http://tvnz.co.nz/othersports-news/triathlete-barclay-basking-in-golden-glow-3706658|title=Triathlete Barclay basking in golden glow |author=John Whiting|work=Television New Zealand|date=2010-08-16|accessdate=27 August 2010| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20100820010304/http://tvnz.co.nz/othersports-news/triathlete-barclay-basking-in-golden-glow-3706658| archivedate= 20 August 2010 | url-status= live}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1992|10|21|df=y}}
| height = {{convert|178|cm|ftin|abbr=on}}{{cite web |url=http://www.triathlon.org/athletes/profile/aaron_barclay/ |title=Aaron Barclay |author= International Triathlon Union |author-link= International Triathlon Union |accessdate=3 October 2010}}
| weight = {{convert|62|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}
| show-medals = yes
| medaltemplates =
{{MedalSport|Men's triathlon}}
{{MedalCompetition|Youth Olympic Games}}
{{MedalCountry | {{NZL}} }}
{{MedalGold|2010 Singapore | Individual}}
{{MedalCountry|a
{{flagicon image|Olympic flag.svg}} Mixed-NOCs team}}
{{MedalSilver|2010 Singapore | Mixed relay}}
}}
Aaron Barclay (born 21 October 1992) is a triathlete who represents New Zealand internationally. He competed at the 2010 Summer Youth Olympics in Singapore and won the first-ever gold medal awarded for the boys' event. Barclay also subsequently won a silver medal in the mixed relay event, competing for a team representing Oceania.{{cite news|url=http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-sport/australia-nz-merge-for-youth-oly-medal-20100819-12ffl.html|title=Australia, NZ merge for Youth Oly medal |date=2010-08-19|agency=Australian Associated Press|author=Sydney Morning Herald|author-link=Sydney Morning Herald|accessdate=27 August 2010 |work=The Sydney Morning Herald| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20100824031706/http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-sport/australia-nz-merge-for-youth-oly-medal-20100819-12ffl.html| archivedate= 24 August 2010 | url-status= live}} The Games were the first time Barclay had competed outside of Oceania.{{cite news | last = Sim | first = Royston | title = Aaron of NZ wins triathlon | url = http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Sport/Story/STIStory_566940.html | work = The Straits Times | date = 2010-08-16 | accessdate = 27 August 2010| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20100825111910/http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Sport/Story/STIStory_566940.html| archivedate= 25 August 2010 | url-status= live}}
Biography and sporting record
Barclay's parents are Craig and Christine Barclay.{{cite news |last1=Egan |first1=Brendon |title=Southland triathlete wins at Youth Games |url= http://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/news/4030159/Southland-triathlete-wins-at-Youth-Games |accessdate=26 September 2014 |work=The Southland Times |date=17 August 2010}} He attended Gore High School. Barclay had been portrayed as being "visually impaired" and "disabled" as he chooses to race without contact lenses, something his coach said the triathlete was able to overcome without problem.{{cite news|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/sport/4034165/Gold-forged-in-Southland/|title=Gold forged in Southland |author=Nathan Burdon|work=The Southland Times|date=2008-08-18|accessdate=27 August 2010}} However, this was later revealed as being only semi-true. Barclay requires glasses outside of competition, and had jokingly claimed to be half-blind without them on a questionnaire athletes were made to fill out for Infostrada Sports before the Games, which was picked up on and transmitted as being fact.{{cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/sport/lloyd-revives-the-klomp-award-20100823-13ik0.html|title='Visually impaired' triathlete sees funny side of 'brave' win|author=Mark Hawthorne|work=The Age|date=2010-08-24|accessdate=27 August 2010|location=Melbourne| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20100826073054/http://www.theage.com.au/sport/lloyd-revives-the-klomp-award-20100823-13ik0.html| archivedate= 26 August 2010 | url-status= live}}
At his first international triathlon meet in Gold Coast, Australia in 2009, Barclay finished only 31st, but he improved to finish second in the Oceania Youth Olympic qualifiers before winning individual gold at the Youth Olympics. He won a further silver medal in the mixed relay event, teaming up with New Zealand teammate Maddie Dillon and two Australian triathletes to represent Oceania.{{cite news|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/sport/4042557/Southland-triathlete-collects-another-Youth-Games-medal|title=Southland triathlete collects another Youth Games medal|author=Nathan Burdon|work=The Southland Times|date=2008-08-20|accessdate=27 August 2010}}
Barclay will take part at the 2010 International Triathlon Union Junior World Championships, before making a decision whether or not to turn professional. He considers Hamish Carter, gold medallist at the 2004 Summer Olympics event, one of his heroes. Barclay now currently is coaching the Macleans College Cycling and Triathlon team.