Each year, young athletes from across Alaska compete in a 3-day sporting event called the Native Youth Olympics.
NYO features a variety of unconventional and challenging physical challenges that push athletes to their limits. The techniques used by competitors are derive from ancient survival skills passed on through generations of Native Alaskans.
- Jeffrey Rivet / KTUU Channel 2 News (2016)
An athlete in yellow leaps toward the suspended one-foot high-kick target.
An athlete in black raises a leg high above the body during a jump.
A competitor in navy extends one leg sideways while airborne.
An athlete in white jumps with a leg raised toward the target.
A competitor in navy draws the knees upward during a high-kick attempt.
An athlete in navy stretches a leg forward with one arm raised.
A competitor in a patterned shirt looks upward while preparing to jump.
An athlete in white reaches up during takeoff beneath the target.
A competitor in black rotates through an airborne kick in front of spectators.
An athlete in black extends both arms while moving into a jump.
A competitor in black lifts one leg toward the hanging target.
An athlete in dark clothing extends a leg and arm during a jump.
An athlete in black extends an arm and leg during an airborne kick.
A competitor in yellow raises one foot near the camera during a jump.
An athlete in yellow approaches the target with both arms raised.
A competitor in black lifts a knee beneath the high-kick target.
An athlete in dark clothing reaches upward during takeoff.
A competitor in yellow pulls one leg toward the target while airborne.
An athlete in a patterned blue shirt extends both arms during a jump.
A competitor in blue stretches one leg horizontally toward the target.
An athlete in black kicks upward with the target just above the shoe.
A competitor in black draws both knees up during an airborne attempt.
An athlete in a dark red shirt lifts a brightly colored shoe toward the target.
A competitor in patterned blue clothing reaches forward during a jump.
An athlete in yellow lifts a foot high toward the hanging target.
A competitor in yellow takes off with arms extended.
An athlete in black tucks a knee while rising toward the target.
A competitor in green lifts a knee while preparing to kick.
An athlete in black rises toward the target in front of the bleachers.
A competitor in white jumps with both feet off the gym floor.
An athlete in blue raises a leg toward the suspended target.
A competitor in blue extends a leg high with arms spread for balance.
An athlete in black draws the knees up during a jump.
A competitor in bright yellow extends a leg toward the target.
An athlete in gray and red lifts one foot during an airborne attempt.
A competitor in a red Spider-Man shirt watches the target with a focused expression.
Close view of an athlete’s raised leg beneath the suspended target.
An athlete in yellow smiles while looking upward.
A competitor in orange jumps with a leg extended sideways.
An athlete in orange lifts a foot high while leaning back in the air.
A competitor in white raises a knee during takeoff.
An athlete in bright yellow jumps with arms spread wide.
An athlete in dark clothing lifts a shoe toward the target in a front-facing view.
A competitor extends one leg horizontally beneath the target.
An athlete in blue leaps above seated spectators.
A competitor in blue rises into a kick with the crowd behind.
An athlete in bright yellow leans forward during a high-kick attempt.
A competitor in white extends a leg while airborne.
An athlete in dark clothing lifts a foot toward the target above the crowd.
A competitor in blue reaches upward with one leg and both arms extended.
An athlete in black and white draws a knee upward during a jump.
Close action view of a competitor extending a leg during the one-foot high kick.