Triple jumping brothers have Paris in their sights

Welre and Ethan Olivier are very much in sync. They train together, live together and it's just as well, both wanting to achieve the same goal.

Older brother Welre, aged 21, said the Olympics was his top priority.

"It'll mean the most to me. It would also be the first time representing New Zealand, so to do it as an Olympian is something different."

He and younger brother Ethan, aged 18, are over from South Africa to gain world ranking points for Olympic selection.

And if you're wondering, they are Kiwis.

Welre and his parents moved to New Zealand when he was just a baby, while Ethan was born here. They grew up in the Auckland suburb of Botany, before moving back to South Africa.

"Due to the new qualifying system for the Olympics we need to have rankings, or if you don't want to qualify on automatic qualifier you have to have bigger meetings. We just don't have them in South Africa so New Zealand was lucky enough to help us come over," Welre said.

They've already impressed at a domestic level. National record holder Ethan won last month's International Track Meet in Christchurch with a wind assisted 16.85 metres. Welre was second.

They're back in action on Sunday at Auckland's Sir Graeme Douglas International.

"It's much better to have good competition than to be the only person, because at least you have something to fight for. I think it's going to be fun," Ethan said.

They'll be competing under the guidance of their father Wikus, a former South African record holder. While Olympic selection for Paris will be tough, Wikus backs his sons.

"We are working towards over a target of 17 metres. If they do get a shot at the Olympics I think that could be the best thing that could happen to them, to prepare them for the next Olympics in four years' time."

For Ethan, it's not only Paris that's on his radar. He has an opportunity to impress at the World Under 20 Athletics Championships in Peru in August, placing fourth at the previous event in 2022.

The men's triple jump at Sunday's Sir Graeme Douglas International begins at 5:30pm.