He's only age 10 but he already has a personal mission statement formulated in that distinctive fair nut of his.

'I want to be on television one day representing New Zealand,” says Andre Gundersen.

Andre Gundersen and the Merivale Primary talent pool. Picture by Tracy Hardy.

It's an ambition that's not too highfalutin or grandiose – not for a kid of Andre's talent.

Because every time this fresh-faced youngster throws a shot-put or a discus, whenever he climbs into a swimming pool or ventures onto a football pitch, whenever he picks up a bat or a ball – throwing or hitting, he's winning or breaking records, or both.

Then Andre has an afterthought, a noble one. 'I also want to make my mum proud.”

He can tick that one off now because mum Sheree already thinks he is a 'lovely, lovely, awesome kid”. She is obviously proud. He is also 'quite a character and very, very funny”.

So Andre can now focus on making it on the telly. Because this kid out of Merivale Primary School is widely regarded as a natural talent and one who could wear a silver fern in any number of disciplines.

'Shot and discus are my favourites,” says Andre, who's not tall, not big, but strikingly athletic. 'No weed,” is how Mum puts it. More a young Jacko Gill look-a-like. 'Yes, and they have met,” says Sheree.

But it's Tomas 'Tom” Walsh who is the man. 'I love him,” says Andre. Walsh, the national shot-put champion even Facebooked Andre with words of inspiration. 'Keep dreaming Andre,” said Walsh. 'Don't stop until your dreams come true.”

Andre's dreaming. And he's performing – this young member of Greerton Athletic Club has more than 120 winner's ribbons.

'He keeps them in piles of 10,” says Mum. 'And 30-something medals.”

And three club records, five trophies and a shield at the last prize-giving. And the President's Cup for best behaviour and overall achiever.

We could go on – two gold medals and a bronze from the North Island Colgate Games.

He threw the discus a record 38.15 metres – but you get the picture. There was also the shield for the best results at the Waikato champs.

Andre was also the first pupil in at least 10 years out of Merivale Primary School to qualify for a local swim championship. He's not in a squad, doesn't train, but he still cleaned up. And he attended an AC Milan football academy in Wellington.

But what about the rounded youngster, what about the schoolwork?

'At, or above,” says mum Sheree. And the principal of his school vouches for him.

'A lovely boy with enormous talent.” And all this achieving from a boy growing up in a lower socio-economic environment and with some behavioural challenges.

Andre is excelling despite circumstances, not because of them. He deserves another medal.

Andre Gundersen – a wonderful name for a young man winning, a future champion. We should stand by the TV for his big moment.

And this weekend he'll probably turn out for the Blue Rovers. 'Yeah, he's a football head as well,” says Mum.