Thomas Neill will be an asset to the Australian junior team in and out of the pool at the world titles

It speaks volumes for the character of world junior swimming championship selection Thomas Neill that before the 2019 GPS carnival, he wrote to every member of the Terrace squad. Little wonder he is a welcomed addition to the Australia swim team

It speaks volumes for the character of world junior swimming championship selection Thomas Neill that before this year’s GPS carnival, he wrote to every member of the St Joseph’s Gregory Terrace swimming squad.

Sometimes the best sporting people are the most self centred, but not in Neill’s case.

“He cares and emotionally, he knows if someone is down. He knows what to say and is very thoughtful,’’ said his coach at Rackley Swim Team Centenary Damien Jones.

Rackley swimmer and St Joseph's Gregory Terrace student Tom Neill.

“He is one of those guys you want next to you if you are going into battle.

“He is just a great guy first and just a very, very good swimmer.

“He is very humble as well but leads by example in every way - training, performance, maintenance outside of the pool.’’

So it goes without saying Neill will be a welcomed addition to the Australian team when the starters gun fires for the first time at the world juniors to be held in Budapest starting on August 20.

Neill, a Brookfield resident, powered into the strong Australian junior team on the strength of seven medals and PBs galore at the Australian championships earlier in the year.

“The championships in Adelaide (seven medals) was the best meet I have had in my career. It was a boon in my career to get those results,’’ said Neill, who swims any freestyle distance between 200m and 1500m.

RACKLEY’S BRONTE JOB JOINS THOMAS NEILL IN AUSTRALIAN TEAM

“To get the that job done is pretty good, but obviously the job is not done yet. Hopefully I can keep that upward trend going.’’

Gregory Terrace swimming sensation Tom Neill at the GPS swimming carnival.

Of all Neill’s successes at the nationals, it was his 1500m swim which pleased him most.

“The 1500m was on the last night. I was pretty buggered throughout the whole week and do to a PB and put together a race that I wanted to and finish off the race strongly, it was pretty nice,’’ Neill said.

There is a touch of Grant Hackett, the good side of Grant Hackett that many know, in Neill’s demeanour and ironically he swims Hackett’s old events and also admires Hackett’s swimming career.

“He was a hard worker from what I have heard and the way he raced,’’ Neill said.

Neill has been joined in the Australian team by Rackley Swim Team Centenary club mate Bronte Job.