WA lifesavers make their mark at national championships
10 athletes from Life Saving and Swim Clubs across Perth travelled to Melbourne last week to compete in the annual Australian Pool Life Saving Championships. The Australian Pool Life Saving
Championships have been conducted in various forms since 1965, and consist of 3 days of Pool Lifesaving competition, with events combining an Under 14 and Senior (Under 16, Under 19, Open and Masters) Competition.
This year’s West Australian team proved themselves strong competitors, taking home 2 gold medals, 10 silver and 10 bronze.Three members of our team also earned themselves places in national Pool Lifesaving teams for their age group.
19 year old Jake Smith, from the Breakers Swim Club at Craigie Leisure Centre, and who is also a swim coach at St Mary’s Anglican Girls School at Karrinyup, earned a place in the Australian National team, the Aussie Barras after claiming 4 silver and 2 bronze medals at the event. 16 year old Madeline Thomson, who also swims with the Breakers Swim Club at Craigie Leisure Centre, won a place in the Silver Barras for under 19s, with her performance in which she took home 1 silver and 2 bronze medals. 15 year old Maddi Howe from Perth City Swimming Club at Perth College Mount Lawley earned a spot in the Junior Barras for Under 16s and also came overall second in the Under 16 female competition at the event after winning 2 gold, 4 silver and 2 bronze medals.
All representatives chosen for these teams take part in a national training camp and compete in various International Competitions throughout the year.
Other notable performances included 15 year old Trent Huzzard from Central Aquatic Swimming and Lifesaving Club in Bayswater, who won 2 silver and 5 bronze medals, 15 year old Jakson Egan from Trinity College Western Sprint Swim Club who won 1 silver and 3 bronze medals and 16 year old Lachlan Meldrum from the City of Joondalup Swim Fit Club who won 2 silver and 3 bronze medals.
State team coach Sarah Hamilton says she’s really proud of her entire team. “This year was a great year for WA, not only did we come with almost a full team but we surprised the other states with our skills and competitive nature. All the athletes performed extremely well and as a coach I was extremely proud to see that all their hard work and training has paid off.”
Royal Life Saving Society WA will host a number of Pool Lifesaving Development Sessions throughout the year with the aim of showing more young people how much fun they can have taking part in this sport, which also teaches them rescue skills that are vital in a community like WA which loves activity around the water. Ms Hamilton says “Pool rescue is growing slowly as a sport is WA and I think that the performances from last week are a credit to the work of the athletes. With their growing dedication and support pool rescue will continue, and in the near future Western Australia will be the state to watch out for in these national events.”
WA's State Pool Life Saving team is supported by the Department of Sport and Recreation.
To find out how you can take part in Pool Lifesaving click the link below.
