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The Olympics is a way of bringing people together. And in the case of Auckland athlete Josh Hawkins that is exactly what has happened at the Youth Olympic Games in Singapore. The 17 year old hurdler found out a month ago that his 16 year old cousin from Zimbabwe, Devyn Hencil would also be competing at the first Youth Olympics in the soccer team. They met for the first time at the Youth Olympic Village and have spent time hanging out and talking about each others sport. Its been crazy. You know it is literally like they say the Olympics have brought us together for the first time. It is crazy, Josh said. His mother Sharon and Devyns mother Rachel grew up in Kadoma, Zimbabwe and Josh was born in Harare when his parents were travelling overseas. Josh knew he had cousins as his mother and her sister kept in close contact. Three weeks before the Games mums sister emailed to say that Devyn was going to the Youth Olympics for Zimbabwe in soccer. And mum emailed straight back to say that I was going too. They were pretty excited. I knew I had cousins in Zimbabwe but nothing much else. We texted each other here and we met on the fourth day. It was the 157cm Devyn who was able to first recognise the 190cm Josh. We have a picture of Josh and his younger brother at home and so I recognised him. It was not the same for Josh who was expecting a bigger figure. He looks a lot bigger in the photos. Honestly I didnt recognise him. I have never had anyone other than my family come and watch me. And yet he is competing and staying in the same place doing the same things as me its like crazy. Devyn said it was a great experience. It was a shock. I knew I had a cousin in New Zealand and my mother spoke about him and that he ran for New Zealand in athletics. When she told me that he was going here too I said seriously? Oh great now I have someone to talk to. New Zealand Chef de Mission, Robyn Wong, herself an Olympian, was amazed at the story. This is quite unique, Ive never heard of this happening before. Its fantastic that Josh is able to meet up with family. You think about the Olympics and the friendships youre able to make and now you can say the family youd never been able to meet. Neither was able to watch the other compete because of their training and competition schedules but they intend to stay in touch on Facebook and to meet again. At the next big competition the Olympics in a couple of yours or may be 2016, said Josh. And who would count against it?
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