The legacy of Ariarne Titmus's success has redefined the Tasmanian swimming landscape, according to the sport's state body.
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Swimming Tasmania said since the Launceston teenager won three gold medals at last year's Commonwealth Games, club membership has grown and others have followed her path to glory.
"Ariarne has hugely transformed swimming in Tasmania," chief executive Jamie McIntyre said.
"Membership is up 200 since October last year. Something has caused that and it is probably a combination of what she has achieved plus the good work in coaching in the state."
Visiting the pool from which Titmus was catapulted into the global spotlight, McIntyre said other Tasmanian swimmers were already following in her wake.
Just a few years after the Titmus family relocated to Brisbane, Hobart's Stefanie McCarthy has also joined St Peters Western Swimming Club and since won a Queensland freestyle title.
"As much as we'd love to have someone from Launceston go all the way through, this is showing it can be done starting from the state," McIntyre said.
"It's a huge upheaval for the family but they are examples of what can be achieved and the younger kids talk about them a lot.
"When families have moved we have seen some really good outcomes rather than the dark days when individuals went to the AIS and it did not work out so well.
"It shows it can be done and shows coaches they are on the mark to be able to do that and see swimmers make the transition into heavier workloads."
McIntyre said Swimming Tasmania's high performance coach Wayne Lawes believes another handful of Tasmanian swimmers also have the potential to get onto national teams.
The state body is eagerly tracking the progress of Launceston Aquatic's Emily Mitchell, Morgen Hawkins, of South Esk, Will Bonney (Riverside), Matilda Smith (Sandy Bay) and young freestyler Jet Jankiewicz (Hobart).
Ariarne has hugely transformed swimming in Tasmania
- Swimming Tasmania chief executive Jamie McIntyre
McIntyre was attending the Northern regional short-course championships at Launceston Aquatic Centre, a day after the Southern equivalent had been held in Hobart. He said participation numbers were similarly buoyant at both ends of the state.
"Numbers here are on a par with Hobart which is great and we will see that increase further with a new pool opening in Smithton.
"This swim meet is not so much about higher performances but younger ones having a pathway and you see that with so many young kids swimming relays which is what it's all about."
McIntyre anticipated a team of around 20 to go to Adelaide for national age champs (April 15-22) and twice as many to go to the state teams champs (October 4-6) at the Australian Institute of Sport Aquatic Centre in Canberra.
"Last year we had 40 go and every one of them broke their PB," he said.
"I hate to use a cliche but it helps to see athletes punching above their weight in other sports like cycling and is really quite exciting."
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