When the 2023 national age swimming championships get under way on the Gold Coast tomorrow, 10 competitors will be from the Macarthur region.
They’re all members of Atlantis Swim Club, a Swimming NSW affiliated amateur swim club operating from Atlantis Aquatic Swim Centre in Smeaton Grange.
Warren McCarthy, race secretary and president of Atlantis Swim Club, says it’s the best result ever having 10 members qualify for this year’s nationals, which are for competitors aged between 13 and 16.
“We are excited to have 10 swimmers competing in the upcoming National Age Swimming Championships on the Gold Coast from 7-15 April,’’ says Mr McCarthy.
“Qualifying for the national championships is an incredible and difficult achievement that takes dedication and perseverance.
“Atlantis is usually very proud to field a team of from two to four swimmers, with the largest team size in recent times being six swimmers.
“Ten national team members equates to an astounding 10 percent of our swimming member base and is a testament to not only the individual effort and dedication of each swimmer, but also the very experienced guidance of our coach Rodney Furlong and the fantastically supportive environment created by all of our amazing young swimmers,’’ Mr McCarthy said.
Well, let’s introduce these local speedsters on water, and start with Cate McCarthy, who will be competing in the nationals for the first time.
The Currans Hill resident, who is in Year 9 at Mt Annan High School, is one of the standouts from a very talented bunch, according to coach Rodney Furlong.
“They are obviously all very good,’’ says the coach – a man of few words – when we drop in to watch training last week.
Emma McCarthy, one of the most experienced members, will be competing in her third nationals. She is Kate’s older sister.
Also competing for the third time is Matthew Allen, who lives in Mt Annan and is in Year 11 at Elizabeth Macarthur High School.
Caitlin Demeary will be going to the nationals for the second time. She lives in Blair Athol and is in Year 11 at Magdalene Catholic College.
Georgia Zannino, who is from The Oaks and is in Year 11 at Camden High, recently broke the 16 year girls 50m freestyle record.
Teagan Hinds is the only non Macarthur resident and she commutes from Penrith to attend training.
Toby Randall, of Wilton, will be going to the nationals for the first time. He is in Year 11 at Wollondilly Anglican College.
Also going to the nationals for the first time will be Brodie Smith, who also lives at Wilton and is in Year 10 at Picton High. Brodie recently broke a Macarthur zone school swimming record.
Charlie Napier lives in Camden and is in Year 9 at Magdalene Catholic College. The club reports that he has been improving at “an incredible rate’’ over the past months, securing himself an extra two events only days before entries closed to the nationals.
Audrey McDermott, of Mt Annan, is in Year 9 at Magdalene Catholic College. This was the first year she has been old enough to qualify for the nationals and she did just that.
