The 2024 Australian Age Swimming Championships saw impressive performances from our Newington Swimming Club members. This years event was held on the Gold Coast from 6th -14th April. Our swimmers did a phenomenal job securing PBs all round.
Sebastian King secured Newington’s first ever national gold medal, and further showed his versatility across multiple events. He claimed the top spot in the 200m Backstroke and demonstrated solid performance in the 100m Backstroke, finishing 4th. Additionally, he placed 13th in the 200m Individual Medley, 17th in the 50m Backstroke, and 47th in the 100m Freestyle, highlighting his depth in various events.
Oliver Low, made an impressive debut. He demonstraighted his strengths in Butterfly and Freestyle events. 50m Butterfly (33rd place), 100m Butterfly (37th place), 50m Freestyle (53rd place), and 100m Freestyle (56th place).
Toby Torrible achieved yet another personal best in the 17-years 50m Freestyle and finishing 38th overall. Toby showed resilience after swam this race with an injury. He later found out that he had fractured his elbow the week prior to this championships race.
Liam West managed his swim meet effectively, with notable performances in the 100m Butterfly (27th place), 200m Freestyle (29th place), 400m Freestyle (41st place), and 100m Freestyle (43rd place). Although, there were some challenges throughout the meet. Liam finihsed his week with a great PB in the 100m Freestyle.
Michael Zhou utilised the experience to learn and grow, competing in the 50m Breaststroke (48th place) and 50m Freestyle (81st place).
Luke Lee, representing PLC Swimming Club but a Newington student, displayed dominance in several races. He clinched the gold in the 200m Backstroke and secured podium finishes in the 200m Freestyle (2nd place), 100m Backstroke (3rd place), 400m Freestyle (3rd place), and 400m Individual Medley (3rd place). His impressive performance also included a 6th place in the 200m Individual Medley, showcasing his overall strength in multiple events.
Overall, the championships provided valuable experience for all members. Looking ahead, the coaching staff look forward to developing a comprehensive plan to increase Newington’s participation and performance in the 2025 Australian Age Swimming Championships. The first step for our yearly plan is to smash out a great winter season ahead. We look forward to goal setting with our swimmers in term 2.
It’s exciting to note that under the guidance of Coach Byron, we already have multiple 12/13 years old swimmers who have qualified for next years event.