THE state’s best swimmers are training hard for the Tasmanian short course championships.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The titles, at the Hobart Aquatic Centre on September 10 and 11, will act as a warm-up for athletes competing at the School Sports Australia championships in Darwin and the state teams age short course event in Canberra later in the month.
Among those getting ready for the state titles is Chelsea Savage, 13, of Launceston.
Savage, who trains seven times a week under coach Andrew Goetz at the Launceston Aquatic Club, claimed an impressive eight gold medals at the Northern regional swimming championships last month.
The medals were in the open 200-metres butterfly, 100m backstroke, 100m individual medley, 100m fly, open 200m backstroke, open 400m IM; and two relay wins.
In Hobart next month, Savage is looking forward to competing in the 100m fly, 100m and 200m back and the 400m IM.
The year 8 student from Launceston Church Grammar School explained that her favourite strokes are butterfly and backstroke but her pet event is the 400m IM.
“I just love swimming and the satisfaction you get when you reach your goals,” she said. “I would like to thank my former coach, Derek Taylor, for pushing me to strive to be the best I can be and to Andrew Goetz for never letting me forget it.”
Savage’s proudest achievement was swimming for Tasmania at the Pacific School Games in Adelaide last November.
Other swimmers who won five or more individual gold medals at the regional championships were: Xavier Nexbit, 10, of South Esk; Emily Mitchell, 10, of Launceston Aquatic; William Gray, 12 (LA); Patrick Roberts, 16, of Burnie; Morgen Hawkins, 19 (SE); and Jonathan Clarke, 13, of Cradle Coast.
Captains named
Nicholas Plats, 16, of Burnie, and Isabele Rush, 16, of South Esk, are the captains of the Tasmanian team taking part in School Sports Australia swimming championships in Darwin in September.
Diary dates
- August 27: Time trial, Hobart. Entries have closed.
- September 10-11: State short course championships, Hobart. Entries close August 29.
- October 15: Time trial (long course), Launceston.
- October 29: Time trial, Hobart.