WATCH LIVE: SA’s best young swimmers set to launch careers at Short Course Championships
Day two of the SA Short Course Swimming Championships has ended, but you can still catch all the action from the day in our replay video right here.
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It’s the junior event that helped launch the career of Olympic gold medallist Kyle Chalmers.
Now the 13 years and under SA Short Course Swimming Championships will be streamed live to a global audience.
In a new era for the sport, every race from the two-day junior titles will be broadcast on advertiser.com.au.
Viewers will hope to see stars of tomorrow such as Rio 2016 100m freestyle champion Chalmers, who won multiple medals at SA junior championships from 2011-2013.
SCROLL DOWN FOR A FULL LIST OF EVENTS
Swimming SA chief executive Michelle Doyle said the titles would be vital preparation for the junior nationals, set to be held on the Gold Coast in April pending COVID-19 restrictions.
Doyle said Hayden Stoeckel, who won bronze at the 2008 Olympics, and Paralympic great Matt Cowdrey were among others to have shone at previous state short course events.
“Kyle swam at this event a couple of years ago and won everything he swam in, basically,” Doyle said.
“Some of the 13 year olds who are competing at the weekend will hope to compete at the National Age Championships next year, so this will be their last short course preparation.
“This is their chance to win a few gold medals and set some times for the coming year.”
This year marks the first time SA’s junior and senior short course titles will be split over two weekends due to coronavirus regulations.
More than 300 athletes representing 24 clubs will compete at the junior meet, including Henley and Grange backstroke specialist Mya Axon who will line up in nine events.
“I want to get some more PBs,” Mya, 13, said.
“We haven’t had a lot of meets (this year) because of COVID, so I’m really excited to see everyone.
“The older you get the harder it gets, because people get faster and you’ve got better competition.
“But I think it’s really good for me.”
Doyle said there was relief among competitors and organisers, after the coronavirus shutdown forced them to rework the winter season.
She expected about 1000 spectators to attend the SA Aquatic and Leisure Centre this weekend and hoped those who could not make it would tune into the live stream.
“For us, this is the end of our revamped winter season and it’s about seeing where everyone is at from a performance level,” Doyle said.
“It was great to get our COVID management plan approved a couple of weeks ago.
“Now have a larger crowd in the venue, which is good because it means parents and grandparents can watch.
“It’s great to be able to partner with News Corp and (live stream) the championships.”
Morning sessions run from 9am-noon daily. The evening program is set for 5pm-8pm.
The senior championships will also be live streamed by The Advertiser from October 2-4.
FULL LIST OF EVENTS
SA Short Course Championships 13 and under