Courtney Wilson will retrace her great grandfather's footsteps, 100 years after he walked the beaches at Gallipoli in World War I.
Wilson, 19, is one of a privileged group of 70 young New Zealanders who will contest the inaugural Gallipoli Games along the historic battlefield locations to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Gallipoli in World War I.
"It is really special for my family for me to go over there and be a part of everything because my great grandad was given a medal of bravery for fighting with the New Zealand troops in Gallipoli," she said.
"It is a real privilege. My late uncle who just passed away had been over there previously. We don't get to go to the dawn service because that is something you have to go into a ballot for well in advance but we will have some sort of Anzac service. There is also a separate opening ceremony on April 25 so effectively we almost have two opening ceremonies for these games."
Wilson is competing in the 3x3 basketball competition in Gallipoli. The former Aquinas College student is in her second year studying physiotherapy at AUT University in Auckland and has represented New Zealand in basketball at under-18 and under-20 level.