Rising Sports Stars with Kelly Exelby of Eves Realty

Summer hasn't come soon enough for teenaged international gymnast Samara Maxwell – and her overworked physiotherapist is loving the downtime the off-season brings as well.

The 15-year-old from Otumoetai College is fresh from her third consecutive national title, although success at the top level comes at a price, with the Year 11 student beating a weary path to her physio's door during the height of the competition season.

Samara has returned from the national championships in Blenheim, where she won the national title for step 10, which is one level below the junior international grade. She swept step nine last year and level seven before that.

But 15 hours of training a week on top of regular competition takes a hefty toll on her growing frame, with the talented sportswoman needing treatment for knee, hip, shoulder and Achilles strains at varying stages of the season.

``My physio's probably enjoying the break right now more than I am,'' the bubbly all-rounder said.

``Because the sport is so high impact it puts a lot of strain on your joints, really loading them up and leading to injuries.

``They're trying to wean me off the physio right now, so I'm down to maintenance work every three or so weeks, but it's at least twice a week if I'm injured.''

Samara, who got a taste of international competition last year when she travelled to Chicago with the New Zealand team, rates this year's national gold as possibly her toughest, noticing a leap (all puns aside) in the level of skill.

She was on the pace but out of the medals after the vault and bar disciplines, though she nailed near-flawless floor and beam routines to clinch top spot as her rivals faltered, winning by just 0.6 of a mark.

``There wasn't a lot of breathing space there, especially with beam being my last and also the most nerve-wracking one! I knew I needed a good floor and beam to have a chance, but a few of the others fell and my dad was freaking out, knowing I had to pull out two good routines to have a shot.

``On the floor I took out the hardest move and played safe a bit, but stuck with my normal beam routine and finished strong.''

With last year's trip to Chicago giving her world perspective, the Commonwealth Games – either in two years in Glasgow or in 2018 on the Gold Coast – are part of Samara's master plan. If she can stay in one piece, you'd give her every chance of getting there.